SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 ~ FROM A PASTOR'S HEART

SEPTEMBER 9 DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING: Romans 5:1-5

It is the WWII generation that is called "The Greatest Generation “They are called the greatest generation because of their character, integrity and ability to make it with very little. They are the generation that rebuilt this country after the Great Depression and they fought off Nazism and Imperialism. They have great character that was developed through difficult times and great testing. We look around today and find that each subsequent generation seems to be losing that character and integrity. Why? I certainly don't have all the answers, but I believe one very major one is that we have shielded our children from that which builds character and integrity. Today we have "safe zones" for college students to go to so they won't be "hurt" by what someone else says. We have "time out" cards for those training in the military, for when it gets too much. Parents want their children to have it better than they did...but at the same time if we don't let them experience what life is like, let them work, let them fail, let them fall down and get back up on their own...then they can never develop the character and integrity that will make them great human beings.

In our spiritual walk it is much the same, our Heavenly Father loves us completely. He is at work in us, developing us into His children. At times He will let us go through the fire, because He knows that we will be stronger for it. He knows that it is in the fires of adversity that we grow, learn and mature into the disciples He has called us to be. God is able to do all things, including keeping us from ever having hard times, difficulties, persecutions...but He doesn't always rescue us from these things, because He loves us and He has a greater plan for us. One thing that is true is that He is always with us as we go through these difficult times...He promises never to leave us or forsake us. Nobody likes testing, nobody likes hard times...but they are necessary for our growth...they are necessary to build character...they are necessary to develop integrity.

Please share your thoughts.