BIG Life Devotional | Daily Devotional for Women Pamela Crim | Daily Devotional for Women

Today we’re returning to the story of the stormy sea, fearful friends, and Jesus walking on water. Yesterday, we read Matthew’s account of this intentional storm and personal encounter. We saw that Jesus insisted his friends go out on the boat that night, intentionally sending them straight into a storm. And we saw that storm was not to harm them, but to allow for a personal encounter with their Jesus that would have Peter walking on water too.







Reading this has us looking at our storms with a different perspective. The storm isn’t always against us, sometimes it’s for us. Sometimes within the storms of life we experience the power of Jesus personally, and we are changed forever.







My friend Gina sent me a message with words you too need to hear today: There’s no strength to be gained in softness, no power to be found without challenge, no wisdom to be found without searching. You have to hit that wall hard, be challenged beyond what you believe you can handle and continue to seek Him when you feel utterly lost, to truly learn what it means to fully surrender to His will. Even when you think the complete opposite is what’s right for you. Without these hard moments, we become complacent and comfortable and never become who God intends us to be.







Wow, could this be where you are? Could you be held safely in the hands of your Savior, while being allowed to go through these hard moments, so that you become the girl God intended you to be? Yes. I think this is where I am. This is the process of full surrender. This is where we gain strength and power and wisdom.







Now, let’s look at this same story through another account and see one additional statement that will no doubt rock our world.







Mark 6: 45-51: Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he said goody bye to them, he went away to the mountain to pray. Well into the night, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Very early in the morning he came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded.







Did you see it? The 5 most confusing words in the middle of this miraculous story. Jesus saw them straining in the storm and he WANTED TO PASS BY THEM. Here comes Jesus, walking on the water in the middle of a storm while his friends are struggling, and he wanted to walk on by. Really, what’s up with that?







My friend Kelly shared this with me after yesterday’s devotional and I just can’t stop thinking about it. Why would Jesus see us struggling and want to just pass by us? My first thought was perhaps his presence should bring us peace. Shouldn’t seeing Jesus in the storm with us be enough? But sometimes we need more, don’t we? I’m so grateful my savior is willing to do so much more!







What if Jesus wanted to pass them by because he was on his way to the other shore where he intended to meet them? Wasn’t that the plan? Didn’t Jesus tell them to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side? This meant Jesus was going to meet them there after they crossed the sea. And guess what … the plan hadn’t changed.







STORMS DO NOT CHANGE THE PLANS OF JESUS.







What if Jesus was planning to pass by them and not stop on the sea be...

If God sends you into it, surely it will be good, right? If he guides you there it’s part of his good plans for goodness in your life, right?







And when it’s not good it must not be his will? We must have disobeyed somewhere if things got hard and we stepped into a mess. We missed a turn, we failed to see the signs. I mean surely that must be what has happened because God wouldn’t intentionally lead us into disaster, would he? He wouldn’t guide you directly to a problem like the one in your life right now.







OR WOULD HE?







Would God willingly lead you right to this place of uncertainty? Would he bring you into a chaotic mess on purpose?







You bet your butt he would! And he does.







Oh, don’t be shocked, Jesus never hid his ways. It’s always been right here in the Bible for us to see clearly and set our expectations accordingly. We just miss it.







Look at this. Matthew 14: 22-24 “Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. (Then) he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.”







You’ve likely read that before and completely missed the fact that Jesus insisted his friends get on a boat and head out into the middle of the lake where they would encounter a mighty storm. My Bible’s translation even says, “he MADE the disciples get into the boat and go.” You think Jesus didn’t know there was a storm coming? You think he missed the weather forecast that evening?







Impossible. Jesus knew without a doubt there was a storm coming. Remember, he is the one whom the winds and waves obey. So, he not only knew his friends would encounter a storm in that boat, he arranged it.







Not all the storms in our life come through the hand of the enemy. We’re so quick to give him credit for every disturbance to our plans and every disruption on our journey, but what if the storm you’re in right now isn’t a work of your enemy, it’s under the direction of Jesus? What if he sent you right in the middle of this storm for a purpose? And what if the purpose isn’t to defeat you like you think it is?







Jesus INSISTED the disciples get into the boat and go out that night. He knew trouble would come while they were out far away from land, and he sent them anyway. In fact, I would propose he sent them FOR that purpose. He insisted they go because they had an appointment with the storm. The strong winds of resistance were for them. The pounding waves were for them. This storm was no accident.







And honey, your storm is no accident either. This resistance you feel may just be FOR YOU. The pounding you’ve been taking may just be FOR YOU. What could God possibly be doing here in this time of hardship?







Oh, he could be setting you up for an encounter with Jesus!







You may know the general power of Jesus already, but you’re about to experience the PERSONAL power of Jesus here.







The disciples had been hanging out with Jesus and had come to know him as a friend. Directly before getting on the boat that evening, do you know what they had just witnessed? They had just been on the hillside where a crowd of 5,000 men plus women and children had gathered to hear Jesus. There on that hillside Jesus decided he wanted to cater the meeting and feed them, but of course the only thing available was the lunch a boy had carried of 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

This morning when I asked God what his girls needed to hear, the Holy Spirit immediately prompted me with the story of Jesus’ first miracle. Then he began showing me the depth of this miracle and how it applies precisely to YOU in the exact situation you find yourself in.







The first miracle tells us so much about Jesus. It tells us he took time to attend a wedding and cared enough to make it a success. Let me tell you something, sister, Jesus is taking time to show up to every single situation you invite him into and he cares about your details. We often don’t invite Jesus because we assume he must be too big and too busy for our little things, but we’re wrong. Always invite Jesus. He will be right there in the middle of it. And no doubt, when Jesus is there, things just go down different.







John 2: 1-2: On the third day a wedding took place in Canan of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well. (Notice, Jesus was invited! That’s important. Have you remembered to invite Jesus? I’m being serious. Is Jesus invited to your family gathering, your vacation, your meeting, your commute, your appointment, your celebration, your Monday? Just in case you forgot to invite him, do it right now. For real, stop everything and invite Jesus to go with you today wherever you are going.)







Verse 3-4: When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told him, “They don’t have any wine.” “What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” (Yes, Mary asked Jesus to get involved in a situation that really had nothing to do with him. Did you know you can do that too? Maybe the problem you’re facing isn’t Jesus’ problem, but you can still get him involved! And girl, when you get Jesus involved, everything changes! Jesussssssss, I’ve got a problem!)







Verse 5-8, Mary says to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did. (Mary is asking for Jesus to fix the problem of wine running out at the wedding. Jesus’ response was to take the jars that were available and fill them with what there was, which was water. Water wasn’t what was wanted, but water is what Jesus would use. All the servants had to do was take what was available and fill it with what there was. The rest was up to Jesus.)







I think today, Jesus is asking his girls to take what is available and fill it with what there is. It doesn’t matter if what you have seems insignificant. It doesn’t matter if what you have seems undesirable. Jesus isn’t asking you to focus on what you have, he’s asking you to focus on him and put what you have in his hands.







Verse 9-11: When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from – though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believe in him.







Do you understand the magnitude of the miracle here? It’s literally just slipped in like an insignificant detail in parentheses (after the water had become wine). This is a big deal of impossible magnitude. Let’s do the math. There were 6 stone water jars each holding 20 ...

Join us for an unplugged bible study of John 4.







REMEMBER THIS, ANYONE YOU ADMIRE WAS ORIGINALLY JUST A NOBODY!







What has Jesus done for you? Talk about that! That’s your story!







Why? Because there’s someone else who desperately needs that same Jesus to do that same work in their lives. And you’re the perfect nobody to point them to the somebody who saved your soul!







Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamelaOr Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crimFind out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

How confident are you in your abilities, your willpower, your courage, your strength? Are you confident you can and you will?







There are a million books and podcasts on building your self-confidence. All sorts of self-help steps to create a more confident you. That’s absolutely fantastic. Confidence looks good on you. Confidence will get you out of the dark corners and have you showing up for life. But my sister, you will be tempted, and sometimes you will humanly fail. Sometimes you won’t get it right. Sometimes you can’t be perfect. Then what happens to your self-confidence?







Scripture tells us there’s something even greater for us to strive for than self-confidence, GOD CONFIDENCE.







1 Corinthians 10: 12-13, “So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful!”







Because you are human, you are going to struggle to constantly do what you know you should do. Your faithfulness may waiver when your weakness is poked at. I don’t know what your weakness might be … Is it that extra 20 minutes of sleep, that bag of Cheetos, that pint of icecream, men that smell good, clothes that get you noticed, mindless scrolling, thinking you’ll do it later, trash TV, or margaritas? Whatever your weakness is, it will be poked at. Your temptation will lurk. And sometimes, you will be weak.







This is life as a human and temptations gonna tempt. Your willpower will waiver … but GOD IS FAITHFUL.







Our God never misses a beat. He never fails to be right there when we need him. He’s never late, he’s never too busy and he’s never empty handed. He is guaranteed to be right there when you are tempted to cave.







So, instead of all this attention on building confidence in yourself, when you’re human and incapable of perfection, place your confidence in God who is guaranteed to be 100% faithful. He will NOT fail you.







1 Corinthians 10:12 in the MSG translation says it like this, “Forget about self-confidence, cultivate God-confidence!”







Having confidence in God will never disappoint you. Knowing that God can and will do what is best every single time in everything concerning you, is a well of confidence no other book can teach you. When you walk in the room unsure of your abilities, but absolutely certain of the God who directs your steps, guides your thoughts, and supernaturally flows through you, then girl, you’ve got confidence. God-confidence.







I may not be all that, but my God sure is! When I’m walking in with him, I’m walking in with the full package! When I’m battling with him (not battling against him, but WITH HIM), losing is impossible. I’m on the winning team, and knowing that make a girl show up for life a whole lot different.







I may fail. I may waiver. I may screw up. But my God is undefeated, unshakable, unfailing, and unstoppable. I’m 100% confident in that!







Because of who my God is, all I need to know is I am HIS GIRL. God’s girls show up different because what we carry within us is his unstoppable, unfailing, unshakable and undefeated power. It’s really not about me … it’s about Him IN ME.







With God-confidence, I can and I will!







Now, part 2 of this scripture. This faithful God of ours “will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.”







The next time you are facing a temptation to avoid what you know you should ...

What’s the recipe for a successful new month of life? How do you rock this thing and make May 2024 count?







What if I told you God has it clearly lined out for you in scripture? Yes, a clear plan for making May 2024 one of the best and most successful months of your life is right here in your bible. Listen closely, I’ll be reading from the Message translation, 1 Peter 1: 13-17.







“So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready… Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves… doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.”







There it is, your recipe for living well this month.







First, 3 things: “Roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready.”







This means, a successful month of life won’t just happen, you have to be willing to work for it.







Are you willing to work for your BEST life? There are no short cuts. Stop spending your energy, time and money trying to find the cheat. Living BIG requires work. There’s no way around it. Take full responsibility for the work required here, roll up your sleeves and let’s do this! Set your mind now to becoming the person you were created to be. Get a vision of you at your best and refuse to settle for anything less than the journey to her. It won’t happen overnight, but be ready for the journey.







Then it says “Don’t lazily slip back into those old groves of doing just what you feel like doing.” Oh, who has a groove of only doing what you feel like doing when you feel like doing it, and that groove has created a deep rut.







Following our “feelings” gets us in deep trouble. Your feelings never lead you to the life you truly want. They lead you to little life living far short of what you were created for. The enemy plays in our feelings. The truth is we rarely feel like doing what we need to do, so how about you stop checking in on your feelings so darn much.







How about this month you commit to being tough, doing what needs to be done, then checking to see how you feel about it after you’ve done gone and did it! Oh, there’s the ticket sister! Guess how you’ll feel after you did what needs to be done … awesome. And guess how you’ll feel 97% of the time before you do it … you totally won’t want to do it. So the key is, stop asking if you feel like doing the right thing, and just show up and do it!







This scripture says, “you didn’t know any better then, you do now.” That’s great news. You don’t have to guilt yourself into change here. You can’t do better until you know better. And here you are girl, you know better now. Don’t live in regret and shame for how you spent precious years of your life making bad choices and digging that hole. That doesn’t serve you or honor God.







You’re here today with a whole lot of experience now, knowing what doesn’t work. If you struggled last month, examine your habits and actions. That’s an up close example of what didn’t work. That’s a valuable tool for your journey. If you know it doesn’t work, let’s not do that anymore!







Now that you know better, you can do better. YAY YOU! Here be in BIG Life we say “your life gets better when you do.