When Struggles Become a Sacred Trust
Do you ever wonder if your struggles are a divine assignment? Could it be that you’ve been chosen to glorify God through your trials? The apostle Paul hinted at this possibility when he wrote, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:29).
Unanswered Prayers: A Clue to God’s Higher Plans
Perhaps your prayers seem to be going unanswered. You’re not getting what you asked for, and it’s leaving you perplexed. Don’t assume God is ignoring you. It’s possible He has a higher purpose in mind. Your struggles might be an opportunity for God to showcase His power and glory.
When Your Struggles Strengthen Others
Have you ever considered that your struggles might be a source of strength for those around you? A friend of mine, who was battling cancer, discovered that his faith in the face of suffering inspired others. Well-meaning Christians had told him that if he had enough faith, he would be healed. But when healing didn’t come, he felt confused and guilty. I suggested a different perspective: “Your hospital room is a platform for God to display His glory. Your faith in the midst of suffering amplifies God’s message.” This shift in perspective brought him relief and dignity.
Redeeming Your Struggles
Rather than resenting your problems, try to redeem them. Use them as an opportunity to reflect God’s character to those around you. Remember, God can use anything to display His glory – the heavens, the stars, history, nations, people, and even problems. So, explore your struggles, ponder them, and most of all, use them to bring glory to God.
A Missionary in the Midst of Suffering
My friend, the cancer patient, took this message to heart. He saw his illness as an assignment from heaven to be a missionary to the cancer ward. A week later, he told me, “I reflected God to the nurse, the doctors, my friends. Who knows who needed to see God, but I did my best to make Him seen.” His cancer became a powerful testimony to the power of Jesus.
God’s Sovereign Plan
God’s sovereignty is not limited by our struggles. He can use them to display His glory, even when we don’t understand what’s happening. So, instead of begrudging your problems, try to see them as an opportunity to showcase God’s power. Through our struggles, may God be seen in all His glory.
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