“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel…” Philippians 1:12

Be Changed

Walk His Way Revisited

We hate turmoil! We hate it when things upset the apple cart of our lives. We don’t like the unbalanced feelings that come with change. We protect everything about our lives so we will not feel lack or want or unnecessary pain. If it was up to us, our lives would be smooth sailing all the time.

Speaking for myself, I protect my finances, my home, my relationships, my emotions, my health, my reputation, and my time. (We invite you to leave a comment about what YOU protect.)

Of course, we must protect certain things. This is called stewardship, and we are taught to be responsible from our earliest years. Stewardship is one of the things our Lord gives us to do on this earth. “That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (2 Timothy 1:14).

But “ease” is not one of those things we are to protect. Our comfort is not something we’ve been given stewardship over. God, in fact, removes us from comfort and ease at various times in our lives for His own purposes. He is committed to our growth and maturity, our being changed into the image of His Son. He has designed works for us to do that will bring forth fruit, which is sometimes painful.

It is common to feel that the best environment for growth is “protected ease.” We protect tender plants from harsh elements as they grow new roots. We protect our little ones so they will experience as little hurt as possible.

Yet we all know strong people with vigorous faith who have scaled spiritual mountains, slain spiritual dragons, beat back spiritual enemies countless times, and carried heavy spiritual crosses. They have endured thorns and shipwrecks, fires and dungeons, accusations and confinement, sickness and rocky paths. Their endurance builds strength, character, and faith.

And not only this, as Paul gives the example in the Philippians passage above, God uses these things that happen to us to further the gospel. All those things we struggle with because of the hardship it causes us, God intends to use.

In Genesis 50, Joseph’s life is coming to a close. Comforting his brothers for the horrible things they had done to him, he says in verse 20, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

Let’s remind ourselves when we suffer that God’s intention to is bring about good, to build strength, to save many people alive, to prove faith, to confound Satan (see the Book of Job for an example), and to further the gospel.

Father, use me to bring about Your plans. Do whatever You must to bring change in me, and in this world.