My son and I were driving to school when we saw two birds in the middle of the road. One flew off as I approached, while the other one stood still. It didn’t even flinch. We laughed at the bird’s bravado; I believe I called it a “flex,” if you speak teen lingo. Then I said, “There’s got to be a devotion idea in that.”

We decided there was, and we found it in 1 Corinthians 15:57,58: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 

Because Jesus defeated death and gives us credit for that, we get to claim his victory as our own. With our eternal future secure, we get a new perspective on the present. When we do face trouble, which can seem overwhelming (kind of like how huge my car is compared to that tiny bird), we know who gives us the strength to stand firm. We don’t fly off when troubles come because we have the courage and power of our Savior Jesus.

Because we aren’t moved, we stay focused on the work we have to do: telling others Jesus won the victory for them too. They can stand firm. Thanks be to God!