 We might have any kind of difficulty thrown at us: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword. But none of these can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
But why would God allow such things?
God would always have something better for us. This we need to accept by faith.
The Principle:
God is able to accomplish a greater good in our lives through suffering. This plan was designed before we were born and incorporates every small detail into its planning.
"All things work together for good ..."
The Evidence:
God was willing to send His own Son to suffer and die an unjust death so that others and Himself would receive a greater glory.
God worked out the very last detail to bring great glory to His Name. He does the same for us. We might think of it like this. What is good for His Son is good for His sons.
"He who did not spare His own , but delivered Him up for us all."
Below is just one of many stories that testify to God's hand on the suffering of His precious people.
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Romans 8:28-39
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "“FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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Exposed and Protected
Hawa Ahmed was a Moslem student in North Africa. One day, she read a Christian tract in her dormitory, and decided to become a Christian. Her father was an Emir (Islamic ruler), so she expected to lose her inheritance because of her conversion. She was completely unprepared for what really happened: when she told her family that she had become a Christian and changed her name to Faith, her father exploded in rage.
Her father and brothers stripped her naked and bound her to a chair fixed to a metal plate with which they wanted to electrocute her. Faith asked them to at least lay a Bible in her lap. Her father responded "If you want to die together with your false religion, so be it." One of her brothers added "That will show that your religion is powerless." Although they had bound her, she was able to touch a corner of the Bible. She felt a strange peace, as though someone were standing beside her.
Her father and brothers pushed the plug into the socket - and nothing happened. They tried four times with various cables, but it was as though the electricity refused to flow. Finally, her father, angry and frustrated, hit her and screamed "You are no longer my daughter."
Then he threw his daughter out into the street, naked. She ran through the streets, humiliated and in pain. Shaking and tearful, she ran to a friend. People looked at her, curious rather than shocked. Her friend let her in, clothed her and gave her shelter. The next day, her friend asked neighbours what they had thought when they had seen Faith running naked through the streets.
"What are you talking about?" they asked. "The girl had a wonderful white dress on. We asked ourselves why someone so beautifully clothed had to run through the streets." God had hidden her nakedness from their eyes, clothing her in a beautiful white dress.
Today, Faith is a full-time evangelist with Every Home for Christ. Source: Dick Eastman, Every Home for Christ
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God's plan for our lives goes beyond this age and includes all the trials that we face.
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