I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel….
–Philippians 1:12
Have you ever faced adversity, pain, or a terrible situation that you couldn’t understand and from which there seemed to be no escape? Maybe you’ve had trials, tests, and tribulations? Of course you have; it’s called life!
I know people who are disappointed with the Christian life because they thought faith promised an easy road or that it would exempt them from life’s hardships. But faith promises you and me no such thing.
What faith does, however, is help us handle our problems and adversities. Often we can’t change our circumstances, but we can change the way we respond to them. In fact, if we live in obedience to God, he’ll use adversity to move us forward. God uses adversity to accomplish his will through us!
You see, adversity produces possibilities that we may not see at the time. But God is behind the scenes working creatively and constructively in our lives for his ultimate purposes.
For instance, why would God allow the apostle Paul, who was traveling the world spreading the gospel, to go to prison? While in prison, Paul wrote two-thirds of the New Testament! And concerning his prison experience Paul said, “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel….”
Don’t despise adversity when it comes, but consider how God is at work. Your suffering today may advance the Kingdom tomorrow!
GOD USES ADVERSITY TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL THROUGH US!
