By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - NIV
We all wish to live stress free lives, with everything we desire available and moving as expected. Yet the reality is not so. It’s difficult sometimes to see the good out of life’s challenging moments, some of which go on for terribly long with more questions than answers, as one challenge follows another. Even after prayer with faith and doing our best, these challenges go on. Some teach that certain occurrences indicate low faith, or a sign we aren’t living right with God. Not necessarily so.
Paul had a fair share of such dilemmas(2 Corinthians 12). He pleaded with God to take away a troubling thorn in his flesh (whatever it was). But God just assured him of sufficient grace while the thorn persisted. All the great men and women of God, tremendously used of God, had (and still have) tough challenging times. But pray and seek God as they may, these challenges allowed by God for His purpose persist. These things are part of the making of great servants of God worth the name.
Paul out of such experiences wrote in the scripture above, about suffering, that God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. All things include the nice and nasty, the straight and unclear, what’s going right or when things seem to fall apart, in joy and pain. When we pray that He removes those ugly situations, He instead gives the grace to go through them as He works behind the scenes, using these experiences, to mold and shape us into what He purposed us to be. This requires patient endurance. The situations will not crush, but make us better. We shouldn’t therefore be perplexed. Let’s not give up.
James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Shalom children of God.