I was walking up the long hallway, holding onto the wall for support. Pain ripped through my body as my head spun. Too stubborn to accept the offer to ride in a wheelchair, I soldiered on, trying my best not to crumble into a mess of tears.

It was one of the early days during my two-year battle with chronic sickness. In fact, is was one of the days that nearly broke me down. Doctors had found a tumor in my body.

As I put on the loose-fitting, pastel-colored hospital gown—the attire required for screenings—I fought back tears. I trembled equally from nervousness and the coolness of the air. At the time, the medical team at Roswell Park Cancer Institute wasn’t sure about whether or not the growth was cancerous. I learned after surgery it wasn’t.

That day, however, I didn’t have the answer, just a storm of emotions brewing within me, threating to completely disrupt my peace, and lead me to the brink of emotional collapse. Besides the tumor saga, I had a whole mess of other issues. That season of illness was brutal. Sickness oppressed me and I wanted, more than anything, to be free. Day after day, I lived through cycles of pain, procedures, improvement, regression, and then, further decline.

My supernatural freedom came at what felt like the expense of my personal dignity. God performed a miracle publicly for me at a prayer service. I wasn’t fond of the idea of being carried in, crying in pain, feeble, embarrassed, and struggling openly. Freedom cost my pride, and I willingly gave up the latter for the former.

In Matthew 8:28-33, certain folks didn’t understand or like the idea that freedom costs something. In today’s highlighted account, there were two demon-possessed men that hung around the tombs in the region of the Gadarenes. According to verse 28, they were so violent, no one could go through that area. This tormented pair became tormenters of everyone else. They were such vicious threats to public safety, complete avoidance became the only acceptable response to them. They were demon-possessed terrorists.

But Jesus didn’t avoid them—something these men under demonic influence wished He had done. So they began screaming at Jesus, asking Him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?”

I find it so amazing Daily Cup family, that demons recognized Jesus immediately, calling Him “Son of God,” when the religious leaders didn’t even recognize who He was.

Anyway, here in Matthew 8:31, these demon-possessed men asked Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs, and Jesus granted their request. When the demons were sent into the pigs, the whole herd threw themselves off a steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

After this demonic possession of the men and the accompanying demonic oppression of the region was lifted, you might think residents would be happy, right? But no, such was not the case.

You know why? Because the herdsmen could only think of the money they’d lost on all those dead pigs. Their close-mindedness and short-sightedness was on full display in verse 34; the entire town came out and begged Jesus to go away, and leave them alone. You see, they didn’t like the fact that spiritual freedom cost their natural possessions. Spiritual gains, in their minds, weren’t worth profit losses.

In yesterday’s devotion, I shared with you how Isaac had to walk away from one harvest in order to gain an even bigger one. What seemed on the surface to be a loss was really a stepping stone to greater: greater freedom; greater levels of increase; and greater blessings.

Perhaps you are in a season of losses, or so it seems. Today’s devotion is to illuminate the fact that it’s not what it appears to be on the surface. God wants to do something greater in your life. Let the pigs die. Embrace your freedom and blessings. Don’t be so tied to the old and the inferior, until you reject the new and superior.

Liberty often comes to you disguised as loss.  But when you’re in God’s will, whatever you lose is gain. He’s making room for better. He’s moving you. He’s elevating you. He’s increasing you. He’s doing something new and more awesome!

Even though it might not look good, it is good. Even though it feels bad, it’s not bad. It is His will for your life. Just hang in there. Say yes to God’s process, and in due time, you will understand why this was necessary.

You’re coming into a new season. Embrace it. Your time of manifestation and breakthrough will come. To remind you of this truth, I’m stirring Proverbs 23:18 ESV into your cup of inspiration, which says, “Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, remember that God is allowing you to go through this for your benefit. He wants to bless you in a greater way.

Your future is much brighter than your today.

Now let’s pray.

God, I don’t always understand what You’re doing, but I trust You. Please give me the strength and courage to endure the difficult seasons of loss and uncertainty. For they are necessary on my way to my next season of breakthrough and increase. I believe a new and brighter day is dawning, and I thank You for it in advance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!

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