Prodigal: Help! Help!
Me: I am here to help. What have you got yourself into?
Prodigal: I am trapped and stuck. I have been all day.
Me: That sounds like a long day to be stuck like that. I will help you down now though.
Prodigal: It was a very long day and wasted.
Me: Well not all adversity is wasted. In fact it can provide opportunities.
Prodigal: I want to hear how adversity can provide opportunities!
David Jeremiah in his book Turning Toward Joy discusses the life of Paul. One paragraph that I felt was encouraging I will share below.
Apart from his imprisonment, there would have been no way Paul could have approached the highest dignitaries in the palace in Rome. We know that some of them became Christians because of the final word of Paul in this letter. He referred to “the saints…who are of Caesar’s household” (Phil 4:22).
For twenty-four hours a day he was chained to a Roman soldier. Every six hours the shift changed, so Paul had four prospects for salvation every day of the week. During his two-year imprisonment, he would have been able to engage in almost three thousand witnessing opportunities with Rome’s top military personnel.
Adversity. How many hours are you feeling it today? Praise God that it probably is not 24 hours like Paul went threw. I know, you are probably thinking it feels like 24 hours. I know the adversity is tough today. I know you are thinking, I am not Paul. I have a hard time speaking and witnessing. You are right. You are not Paul and chances are you are not chained to Roman guards.
What God wants to show you though, is that someone is watching your adversity. Someone that you would not have been in contact with if it was not for your adversity. They need to see Christ through you. They need to see how God upholds you through the adversity. So don’t be weary and give your burden to Christ. Don’t forget God can use this adversity in ways that you cannot imagine.
Philippians 1:13 So that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.faithincounseling.org
www.theprodigalpig.com
