When we must endure hard times in our lives, it’s usually impossible to envision what good could possibly come of it. If you regularly read my blog, you may have read a recent post on Blind Trust.
Believing in God is easy. Putting our complete trust in Him is not.
In today’s prescription verse above, Paul tells us how our trials and struggles actually make us better.
You couldn’t say anything Paul didn’t have a comeback for:
People: “You know preaching about this Jesus is going to get you killed. “
Paul: “To die is gain.”
People: “Okay, then we’ll let you live.”
Paul: “To live is Christ.”
People: “Then we are going to torture you.”
Paul: “I don’t compare my current sufferings to future glory.”
People: “We will put you in prison.”
Paul: “Then I’ll bring a hymnal and sing songs and convert all your guards.”
Here are a few of the “minor” ways Paul suffered for the sake of Christ:
2 Corinthians 11:24-28~He received thirty nine lashes on his back for the sake of the gospel.He was beaten with rods three times for the sake of the gospel.He was stoned one time for the sake of the gospel (He was not HIGH on rocks. He was HIT with rocks! A group usually did this in the old days!)He was shipwrecked three times in travels for the sake of the gospel.He was thrown in the belly of a ship for a day and a night, (the deep), for the sake of the gospel.He had many dangerous trips, (among highwaymen and robbers), for the sake of the gospel.He had to travel through dangerous rivers for the sake of the gospel.He was often in danger from his own people for the sake of the gospel.He was in danger from Gentiles for the sake of the gospel.He was in dangers in the city for the sake of the gospel.He was in dangers in the wilderness for the sake of the gospel.He was in danger from false Christians for the sake of the gospel.He suffered toil and hardship for the sake of the gospel.He spent sleepless nights for the gospel.He was hungry and thirsty for the sake of the gospel.He was in fasting often for the sake of the gospel.He was in cold and nakedness for the sake of the gospel.In addition to all of the above, as an Apostle, he had the worry of all of the churches daily on him for the sake of the gospel.
And yet he still trusted. He knew that all of the persecution he faced would be worth the day he would encounter Jesus and spend eternity with Him in Heaven.
David and I went to Florida last week. Yes, I overcame My Irrational Fear and actually flew on the same airplane as David…leaving our kids behind at home (I’ll share a story later this week about our flight—God definitely has a sense of humor). We stayed at a fabulous resort in Orlando where his convention was being held and we came upon this sign as we were exploring the hotel:
I couldn’t help but apply that to life.
Just like Paul, we are always under construction. God uses every situation to make us better…if we let Him.
As we travel life’s highway, we need to remember there will always be construction paving our way to a flawless experience in Heaven!
From my heart,
Celeste
Love these words. What a great reminder of the things we are able to endure with God’s assurance. Today I met a man that was on that flight that crash-landed in the Hudson. He said he was never scared. He normally fights high blood pressure and other stress related issues. He said when it got really quiet and he knew they were going down that he said “Lord, I’ll see you in a minute.” a few minutes later he was on a ferry calling his wife. God’s love and assurance were guiding that plane, that passenger and most especially that pilot Captain Sully. God’s assurance is a great gift
Thank you so much. For me, and probably most, it’s easy to live these words when everything is going great. It’s during the hard times these words are much more challenging to embrace. We just have to put our life in God’s hands every single day and know that He’s got us!