365 Daily Devotional PlanSample

When It Stinks

In John 11, when Jesus showed up at Lazarus’ house four days after he had died, Lazarus had been in the tomb so long that his body stunk. At times, we all have things in life that stink. Maybe a relationship feels so dead that it stinks. Your finances stink. The layoff stinks. That mistake you made that set you back stinks.

Jesus went to the tomb, where the stink was, and told them to roll away the stone. Sometimes we think that God will help us only if we’re good enough, but God goes to the stinky places in our lives. That person who hurt you—it stinks. God is saying, “Let Me in. I’m going to wake up the healing, wake up the restoration, wake up the new beginning.” That past mistake you made and feel condemned about—it stinks. God is saying, “Roll that stone away. I’m waking up forgiveness, cleansing, and redemption.” It’s not too late for whatever stinks in your life. God is saying, “Let Me in.”

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You are the God who is willing to go to the stinky places in my life and bring redemption and resurrection. Thank You that You don’t require that I be good enough to qualify for Your goodness. I am inviting You in to touch and wake up what seems dead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”