Looking for the Good
- Grace Church
- Jul 27
- 4 min read
A 3-Day Devotional Based on Pastor James Grizzle's message, July 26, 2026
DAY 1
READ
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."
— Romans 8:28–30
DEVO It is easy to quote Scripture when life is smooth, but far harder when we are standing in the middle of heartache, illness, or confusion. When unexpected trials arrive, our immediate human reaction is often to look for quick relief or demand immediate answers. Yet Paul doesn't say "we hope" or "we wish"—he boldly writes, "we know." This settled assurance isn't built on our emotions or circumstances, but on the unchangeable character of God. He is the active agent in our lives, continually moving behind the scenes even when the scenery around us looks dark and chaotic.
The vital key to understanding this promise lies in how God defines "good." We often define good as comfort, peace, or financial stability, but God defines the ultimate good as making us look more like His Son, Jesus. He takes the bitter ingredients of our lives—the betrayals, sicknesses, and unexpected delays—and blends them together into something that produces spiritual depth and Christlikeness. You do not have to manufacture this good on your own strength. Your role is simply to love Him, trust His sovereign hand, and allow Him to work out His beautiful purpose in your heart.
APPLICATION Where in your life are you currently struggling to see "the good," and how might God be using that difficult circumstance to make you more like Jesus?
DAY 2
READ
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
— Hebrews 12:1–2
DEVO There is a fundamental truth in life: wherever you fix your eyes, that is the direction you will drift. If you stare continuously at your fears, anxieties, and overwhelming obstacles, you will inevitably find yourself consumed by a sense of drowning. The noise of the world and the weight of our daily struggles constantly demand our complete focus. In the middle of this chaos, the Holy Spirit gently whispers a simple instruction to our hearts: keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
Jesus is described as both the author and the finisher of our faith. That means He didn't just initiate your salvation and leave you to figure out the rest on your own. He is actively guiding, sustaining, and perfecting your journey every single day. When you feel the urge to rely on self-effort, checklist Christianity, or performative perfectionism, remember that you cannot finish in your own strength what only grace can accomplish. Rest today in His capability, surrender your striving, and let Him complete the good work He began in you.
APPLICATION What specific anxiety or heavy distraction has been capturing your focus lately, and what practical step can you take today to redirect your eyes back to Jesus?
DAY 3
READ
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
— Romans 8:31–32, 35, 37
DEVO When trials drag on, the enemy's favorite lie is to convince us that God has abandoned us or that He no longer cares. Yet Romans 8 paints an incredible, breathtaking picture of the Triune God actively surrounding us with love. The Father, who did not hold back His own Son, is singing over you. Jesus, seated at the right hand of God, is continuously interceding and praying for you moment by moment. And the Holy Spirit dwells right inside your heart, offering comfort and helping you pray when you don't even have the words.
Because God's hold on you is unbreakable, you do not have to live in fear of losing your footing or falling away. Nothing in creation—not hardship, sickness, distress, or darkness—has the power to sever your connection to Christ. You are not merely surviving your trials; in Christ, you are more than a conqueror. Secure in this fierce, unrelenting love, you can face whatever today holds with quiet confidence, knowing your eternal future is entirely settled in Him.
APPLICATION How does knowing that Jesus is actively praying for you right now change the way you approach your current daily struggles?
