“…yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (1)
In the peak of grief I laid on my bed, agonizing over my son’s death. Grief, loss and the like, was enough to process, but then I began to question, how can I give an answer or explain this murder? All that happened seemed so confusing, and my emotions were jumbled. It was unfathomable, and I was discouraged and disheartened! Pain is so real it can make us feel useless for the cause of Christ or the church. We all are wired for struggles but how do we respond to our troubles and to whom will we give the glory? The good news is; God uses all things, even suffering, for a special work unbeknown to us. God appoints people for certain tasks, and our stories reflect His beauty, praise and honor. Even those trials that are allowed are used for the praise of His glory. “In Him, according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of His will, we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of His glory.” (2)
It is difficult to sort through trials when we consider the difficulty and intensity of whats happened. Let’s face it, it’s harder and even more complicated to run from our troubles. Why would we run when we have more opportunity in that place, to fulfill our purpose? God always work for our good! Our trials are what helps to shape us into the person we are today. I’ve found the greatest testimony I can be is to be authentic and real. That means I need to let go of who I thought I would be, to become all that I am in Christ.
God’s plan is working through everyday people with typical failings. His purpose is for His glory and ultimate kingdom. But praise God, Christ leads us in triumph, and through us He spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. (3) We are instrumental in distributing the good news of the gospel through our stories which people are reading in us as we live them out. “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on your hearts, to be known and read by all men; and you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink by with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tables of human hearts.” (4) The word of our testimonies is our witness of how we’ve conquered by the blood of the Lamb. (5) Let us never underestimate the suffering we’ve endured, the ache, illness, or wound is very real, but it has a very deliberate purpose. Think about how God will use the discomfort. In it we are enthralled by the greatness of God…that He would use each tear and every pain for a lasting victory to magnify His glory.
Heavenly Father, grant us the desire to be transformed by Your power. In our inadequacy fill us with love, purpose and meaning making us adequate to live for You. We exist for You, and trust everything has a reason. Amen
Footnotes:
1. 1 Corinthians 8:6
2. Ephesians 1:11
3. 2 Corinthians 2:14
4. 2 Corinthians 3:2, 3
5. Revelation 12:11
All Scriptures are cited from the rsv
Addressing Crisis Together Ministry 