Read the Bible
Today's Devotion
From Dr. David Jeremiah
Still Smiling
May 22, 2026
I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
Acts 27:25, NIV
Recommended Reading:
Acts 27:21-2521 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
Acts 27:21-25
Scott Smiley is an American soldier who was blinded while fighting in Mosul, Iraq. In his book, Hope Unseen, he describes how he and his wife Tiffany learned to trust God with tragedy. Tiffany said, “The words that I read in the Bible prior to all of this became real. It was like oh, this is the peace that surpasses all understanding, you know, this is the hope that carries you through. So it all came to life for me. There’s still times where we’re like ‘Yeah, we wish Scotty could see.’ But God what has taught us through His word.... And going through this trial and this valley with the Lord, I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”1
When we go through trouble, we struggle, but out of the struggle comes strength. And out of the strength comes a shout of praise. Express your faith when you are experiencing a time of trouble. The action of expressing your faith aloud is often the first step toward courage and victory.
A lot of people look at the events in my life as a huge tragedy, and I don’t necessarily. I think God has given me the ability to understand Him more and to understand His purpose through my blindness.
Scott Smiley
