October 16, 2026
Friday, October 16
Yesterday’s devotional ended with a question: What would we have done on that day in John 6? With Jesus’ massive crowd dissolving to only a handful, would we have stayed the course?
Here’s a thought exercise: Imagine God offered to grant you the answer to any prayer you prayed, no strings attached. What would you ask for? Maybe you’re a young person who would ask to be successful in your chosen career. Or maybe you’re further into your career, and you want a new job you enjoy more. Maybe you or someone you love has physical or mental issues that you would ask God to heal. Or you dream of reaching a certain level of financial prosperity. Maybe you’re single and would ask God to send you a “soulmate.” Or you’re married and wish that your spouse would fall back in love with you. Maybe you’re a parent, and yearn for success and happiness in life for all your kids.
Your answer reveals much about your heart. It exposes what your top priority in life is, what you are spending your life’s energy seeking after. Please understand: All the things I listed in the above paragraph are good things. If you get any of them, be grateful. I will rejoice with you. But if your answer is any of those things, Jesus would say, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.” Remember, He claimed to have power, endurance, and love that no one else in this universe can offer.
Here’s what I know about the things our hearts desire: None of them have the power we think they do.
You think getting rich will make you happy, but when John Rockefeller was the richest man on earth, and he was asked, “How much money does a person need in order to be happy?” His answer was, “A little more.”
You think if only your kids can be happy and successful, your life will be complete. But I promise, if that happens, it won’t be enough. You’ll say, “I’m glad they’re doing so well, but now I’m lonely because I’m no longer the center of their lives. Why did they have to move away and start families of their own? What is left for me?”
You think if you could get paid for doing something you love, life will be wonderful. Guess what? I get paid for doing something I love. If my job were the best thing in my life, I would be miserable. Only Jesus has the power to make your life meaningful.
None of those things has endurance, either.
If you want to be healed, that’s a perfectly justifiable thing to pray for. But even if God grants you that healing, your body will break down again someday. Success, careers, money, people…if we build our lives on any of these things, it’s a house of cards. Jobs get downsized. Money blows away because of a busted bubble in the stock market. People let you down, and ultimately pass away. But Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. All those things are like Dr. Pepper. They can give you a jolt, but it wears off. He is the bread that satisfies without end.
“Almighty God, I know that my mind is foolish. Like a child, I desire things and mope when I don’t get them. Help me to see that in you, I have all that I need, and there is nothing you won’t provide me with. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Conroe
More from Pastor Jeff at his website: jeffbergerwriting.com
