Devotionals – Wheeler_3 Jierette Genetia (ICCS)

Devotionals – Wheeler_3 Jierette Genetia (ICCS)

(This devotional was written by one of our incarcerated students, sharing their faith and study of God’s Word.)

But God…

There are so many words in the English language that when you put them together in a certain order have a huge impact. Adding or removing a word or two can change the whole story.

Let me give you an example. In Acts 13:26-29, Paul is talking about what happened to Jesus. How Jesus was executed and then was laid in a tomb. The enemy thought that he won, that everything stopped at the period. The enemy wants you to think the same thing, that you being in prison is the period to your story. That your story is done, no way to change the ending.

Now let’s read what happens next in verse 30. “But God raised him from the dead.” Those two simple words “But God” changed the whole story. The enemy thought he won by sending Jesus to the grave but God had a plan to save all of humanity through Jesus that the devil did not know about.

The world tells you that there is no hope for a future because you are in prison, but God tells you I have plans to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). The world tells you that you are unworthy of love, but God tells you I love you so much that I gave my only Son’s life for you (John 3:16). The world tells you that you are too far gone to be saved, but God tells you that there is no place in this world that my grace and mercy can not find you (Psalm 139:7-12).

Maybe the world wants to label you an addict, a sex offender, a lost cause, but God wants to label you redeemed (Isaiah 43:1), chosen (1 Peter 2:9), forgiven (Psalm 32:1). Now the question is will you continue to miss your “but God” moments and let the world write your story or will you let God have the pen and rewrite your ending?

Jessica W.