Glorifying God through Difficulty

There is nothing that can touch the believer’s life unless it comes through the permissive will of God.  That means God has complete control, even when it seems to us Satan has been allowed to run rampant through our personal life.

Trapped in Roman confinement, Paul knew that God could rescue him; after all, He had removed Peter’s chains (Acts 12:7).  But Paul didn’t just sit around waiting for liberation.  Because he believed God did everything for a reason, he earnestly continued doing kingdom work - even while bound in chains.

Indeed, the Lord can use everything that comes into our life.  Though we may desperately wish for our circumstances to change, as we allow Him to work, each one can be ultimately used for His glory and our good.

Paul’s time in prison proved a benefit for the Gospel, though logically, it should have been hindered.  As he was guarded by the elite soldiers around the clock, he talked to them about Christ.

Let us remember today that many of God’s choice servants have gone through great difficulty in their lives.  That was even echoed in the memorial service I attended recently for Dr. Charles Stanley.  I think back to men like Ron Dunn and Manley Beasley, whom God used mightily in my life through their suffering.

There are no verses in the Bible that say believer’s are promised an easy life.  In fact, as our culture gets more hostile to Godly principles, we can expect more difficulty.  But we, like Paul, can allow our current circumstances to glorify God and shape us more into His likeness.