Choose Good in a World Full of Evil - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - February 20, 2026
iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women
Audio By Carbonatix
By Vivian Bricker, Crosswalk.com
“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).
With all the evil in the world, it is hard to focus on God. Every time we turn on the news, we are told new information concerning mass shootings, hate crimes, and wars. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been the Russian Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas War. At one time, we thought wars were rare, yet sadly, they occur at least once a day in some part of the world. This is because anger, hate, and rage are taking the earth by storm (Matthew 24:6).
The evil that is prevalent in the world is due to humanity. From the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they brought sin into the world (Genesis 3). Ever since this time, we have been born into sin, and we all freely choose to sin (Psalm 51:5). As we are told, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
As followers of the Lord, we need to turn away from sin and do good. Even if nobody around us is making the right decisions, we are called to do the right thing. We serve God – not the world or human beings. With this knowledge, we need to seek to please the Lord and serve Him. This means we must intentionally turn away from evil.
Wars, violence, and crimes will persist, yet we can focus on what is within our own control. This includes our own actions and behaviors. We can either add fuel to the fire or try to help in ways we can. It is uncommon for one person to change the world, but if everyone sought the Lord and followed Him, there would be an end to violence on the earth. Instead of hate, there would be love, respect, and peace.
At the current time, we don’t live in this world. This world will not be realized until the New Heaven and New Earth. Because sin is in the world, we will never have a perfect utopia. However, we can look forward to the day when God makes everything new (Revelation 21:5). On this day, sin, hate, violence, anger, and rage will no longer exist.
Instead, there will be perfect peace, love, and unity.
Our passage today comes from the Book of Psalms. Psalm 34:14 says, “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” As this passage tells us, we are to turn from evil and do good. We must seek peace and pursue it. In our present day, we don’t see many people doing this. However, that doesn’t mean we are called to disobey God just because the rest of the world is living in disobedience.
As Christ followers, we need to obey His commands and follow His teachings. This means we must apply Psalm 34:14 to our lives. We are to turn away from evil and do good. What this looks like is that we turn away from doing sinful actions. As believers, we should already be turning away from our sin in repentance.
Similarly, this passage tells us to seek peace and pursue it. The opposite of peace is disorder. This means we are to stop involving ourselves in trivial matters or things that cause unnecessary arguments. Examples include picking fights over petty things, getting into arguments in social media comment sections, or tearing someone down to make ourselves look better. As Christ followers, we are called to seek peace and pursue it, and this applies to all areas of our lives.
Whether we are behind a screen or we are meeting someone in person, we don’t need to be mean, hurtful, or rude. By being mean, hurtful, or disrespectful, we will be giving a distorted view of Jesus. Instead of being a hurtful person to others, we need to show the love of Jesus in our actions at all times. Part of this is by seeking out peace and pursuing it. In our lives and in our interactions with others, we need to strive to maintain a bond of peace and mutual love.
What is holding you back today from following God’s teachings in Psalm 34:14? Go to the Lord today and ask for His help if this tends to be a struggle.
“Dear God, help me to apply Psalm 34:14 in my daily life. In everything, help me to turn away from evil and do good. It is easy to do evil, but it is not right. Evil will only separate me from You. Equip my heart and soul with motivation to follow You faithfully. I will always obey You, God. Please help me to seek peace and pursue it. Thank You, Amen.”
Photo credit: Unsplash/Emma Simpson
Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate.
Related Resource: I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life | Midweek Prayer (John 14:1–6)
When our hearts feel troubled, Jesus invites us to trust Him again.
This short midweek prayer creates space to pause, breathe deeply, and return to Jesus’s words in John 14:1–6, where He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In this guided prayer, we acknowledge the places where worry, uncertainty, or longing have unsettled our hearts and bring them honestly before God.
Jesus reminds us that we are not alone—that He is with us, that He is preparing a place for us, and that He will return for us. As we pray, we ask for help to trust Him more deeply and to follow Him in the way He has already made clear: to love God fully and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Take a few quiet minutes to slow down, listen for God’s invitation, and rest in the presence of the One who leads us in truth and life. If you like what you hear, follow So Much More on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
