Daily Devo

God's Not Done

By: John Carrigan

Monday, March 31, 2025

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6

Sometimes, we can only see our blessings in hindsight. For example, it can be hard to see blessings in the midst of a trial. Later, as we reflect on what God was doing, we realize there were hidden blessings we weren't even aware of. Whether we see the blessings immediately or later, we can trust God is working everything out for our good and His glory!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

In our current season of life, it’s almost like my wife and I have become ranch hands. We had dogs several years ago, but when they passed away, it really hurt to lose them, so we didn't plan on owning more. But last year my son’s dog had puppies. They were so cute, we added two new members to our family—one came first, then we added his brother a few weeks later. They are a mix of Great Pyrenees and Border Collie, so they are both big dogs.

Bred to guard livestock, they made it their job to guard us and our house. Our home instantly changed from quiet and peaceful to loud and energetic. It’s been quite an adventure; one I wouldn’t trade for anything. But there was a time when I wondered "how did we get here?" It was unplanned, but here we are, and God has been good to us in every single moment!

Julie and I continue to grow spiritually, but our dogs continue to grow physically. The bigger one is already 130 pounds, and he acts very brave. But when we're outside at night, if he hears something unfamiliar, he comes close to me and touches my leg. I pat him reassuringly and tell him, “Everything's okay, Daddy’s here.” There may come a day when our dogs aren't fearful, but I pray there will never be a time I don’t draw close to my Heavenly Father! The Holy Spirit is so profound; He can use our life experiences and our pets to remind us of God's love and character.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18

The next time you're in a trial, don't try to solve it with your own wisdom. Trust God! Like me, you'll see those hidden blessings when it ends, and realize your Heavenly Father was with you the whole time!