²⁷ However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for the both of us.”

Matthew 17:27 [NLT]

Today’s daily devotion might not be what you might expect. When you first read the Bible passage in Matthew 17:24-27, you might assume that the passage is trying to teach us about something else. And you are also right. You see, after doing this for some time, I’ve learned one very interesting truth about the Word of God. The very same verse can speak to us differently at different times in our lives. It shows us what we need to see (or know) at that moment in our lives. So what this verse/passage could be saying to you right now could mean slightly different things to me, or someone else.

When I was reading verse 27 this morning over breakfast, the first thing that caught my attention was how strange Jesus’ instruction to Peter was. I know the Bible doesn’t exactly go into Peter’s psyche and all that, but one must assume that Peter must have felt that the instruction was rather strange. But ofcourse, one can also assume that Peter, in spite of feeling how strange the instruction was, decided to trust Jesus and did what He asked. And yes, he perhaps found that large silver coin too.

The very first thought that came to my mind when I read this verse was a reminder of how the Lord sometimes works in mysterious ways. So I tried to find that passage that I used to know from Isaiah 55:8-9.

Looking back at this particular passage also helped to remind me of those times in my journey where God actually did something rather miraculous in my life. I’m not sure if I should call them supernatural, but they certainly were miraculous on some level. Let’s just say, those encounters and experiences were both unexpected and beyond my wildest imaginations at that time.

Those experiences were what I think of when I think about what this passage means to me today. I feel like this is more of a reminder that I won’t always understand how God works, or how my life, and the struggles that I’m currently facing will play into His grand scheme. Whatever challenges that I am currently facing and working to overcome [by His grace] could just be His way of bringing me closer to where He wants me to be. And I just can’t see that yet.

Over the past 8 years of my life, God has certainly led me down some really strange paths. Sometimes winding and long, and honestly, it never made sense to me at that time either. But in hindsight, I can see what was happening and I could now understand that God always has a plan. It is not our part/job to understand His entire plan for us, we just need to trust that He knows what’s best for us, so we just need to follow His lead.

Right now, I’m being reminded that I need to trust Him, even if some of the challenges and struggles in my life are nearly impossible to understand.

Personal Prayer for Today

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for giving me the strength today to get up, and the courage to face my fears and uncertainties.

Thank You for reminding me that the Lord can work in mysterious ways some times. And it might not always make sense to us in that moment, but we can trust in Your plans for us.

Thank You for helping me to realize that part of the reason I had strayed from Your path in recent years is because I tried to make my own sense of the challenges and struggles that were in front of me. In trying to make sense of it, I had totally lost sight of You.

So, today, I cast my challenges and struggles aside. And I choose to look to You again. Whatever difficulties and obstacles that I need to face and overcome today, I know now that I don’t have to face or overcome them alone. You are with me. So I choose to look to You, to trust that You always know what is best for me. And even when everything else looks like chaos, I know that You are still in control.

Today, Father God, I surrender everything that I am, all that I’m facing into Your hands.

I vow to give You all the praises and all the glory. In Jesus’ mighty name.

Amen.