Paul became the greatest missionary and one of the greatest preachers ever. As Christians sometimes we want be used by God in remarkable ways, we want to preach to many, win lives for Jesus, have revivals, go on missions trips and so much more… but are we willing to go through the trials and pains that Paul had to face?
“But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”” -Acts 9:15-16
I never fully understand the reason for some of the trials that I face in my life. And sometimes it seems that the more I try to understand the more confused I become. As I take a look back at my life and see the timeline of all that I've been through I cannot see how I even made it out of some of the things God has put me through. From being molested at 5 years old, to being raped at 7 years old, to ending up in the foster care system at 15 and having no family at all by 18. However; from time to time God places me in circumstances in front of me where the light within me has a chance to light and I’m able to speak into people broken lives and help them realize that they have value, worth, and that our Father has a great deep love for us. I always walk away from such conversations feeling incredibly used by God for His awesome Glory.
If you really want to be used greatly by God, accept this now: You’re going to be tired. You’re going to be betrayed. You’re going to suffer.
Like Paul, your great calling will exact a great cost. You’ll be able to say, “For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body” -2 Corinthians 4:11. But also like Paul, that won’t be the final word for you. You’ll be able to say, “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” -2 Corinthians 4:17.
Don’t give up, keep on fighting, keep on pressing through, and know this, “Be joyful whenever you face trials, because testing your faith strengthens you.” - James 1:2
The challenge is this… are you willing to go through opposition in order to get to His position for you?
“A simple guys living a BOLD life for Christ” –Francisco Nelson