Daily Devotional: Blaming God
- David A. Case
- Jan 19
- 3 min read
By David A. Case
Life Sayings:
What I hold onto holds on to me.
It’s not about perfection, but direction—fail forward.
If it don’t show up, I won’t grow up.
“Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.’” — Genesis 12:1
What do you do when the pain in your life feels like it came straight from God? What do you do when obedience hurts?
If I blame the One who is supposed to heal me, what chance do I have of getting better?
God wants my whole heart—not just the easy parts, not just the broken parts, but the deepest places of care and desire. Those are the areas where I often hold back. And ironically, those are the very areas where I most need Him to be God.
When God asked Abraham to leave everything familiar—his country, his family, his inheritance—it was a test. And though Abraham took steps, they were partial at first. He brought his father. Then he brought Lot. It wasn’t full obedience. But God met him where he was and kept nudging him forward.
Partial obedience is still disobedience. But God is patient with the process. He doesn't demand perfection all at once—but He will not stop until He has my whole heart.
Eventually, Abraham received the promised son. And then—God asked for him back. God asked Abraham to sacrifice the very thing He had given. Why? Because God wanted Abraham’s heart more than He wanted his performance. And in that moment of ultimate surrender, God stopped the knife. The sacrifice wasn’t required. But the obedience was.
God doesn’t want to take from me. He wants to be my God. And anything I’m unwilling to give to Him—whether it’s my dreams, my ministry, my family, or my reputation—becomes an idol. That area becomes an open door for the enemy to attack. Not because God is cruel, but because God refuses to be second.
Satan has legal access to whatever I haven’t fully surrendered. That’s why pain often reveals my idols. And it’s also why the enemy is so effective at using unhealed wounds and unsubmitted desires to derail my trust in God.
But here’s the truth: God wants to bless me. He designed me to be a conduit of blessing to the world. My obedience is the switch that turns on the flow. But many people never get there because they remain angry—at people, at life, even at God. They can’t see that God is waiting for surrender so He can release abundance.
He doesn’t want to take the “son” from me—He wants to know that the “son” isn’t my god. And once I’ve truly given it over, He often gives it back, multiplied and redeemed.
Reflection Question
What area of your life do you care about so much that it’s hard to keep it fully surrendered to God?
Prayer
Father, I confess that there are areas in my life I’ve clung to more than I’ve clung to You. I’ve blamed You for pain You didn’t cause. I’ve resisted surrender because I didn’t trust Your heart. Today, I lay it down. Whatever I’ve placed above You—my ministry, my family, my reputation—I give it back. I want You to be God over it all. Amen.
Today’s Step of Obedience
Identify one area of your life where trust has been hard. Write it down. Then, tell God in prayer that you are choosing to give it to Him. Finally, tell someone else—a mentor, friend, or small group member—and invite them to help you walk in surrender.
This devotional was inspired by the book Heart Change Handbook by David A. Case. If you found it helpful, please consider it for your own self-study and suggest it to your church small group or recovery community as a basis for small group study.
If this message has encouraged you to pursue deeper transformation, I invite you to continue the journey through The Heart Change Handbook. It provides a practical, biblical path for spiritual growth and is an excellent resource for church small groups and recovery communities. Consider getting your copy today and introducing it to your group as a guide toward meaningful heart change.
👉 Learn more about Small Group Resources from Heart Change U.
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