Lent Devotion
Tuesday, March 22
Facing Difficulty with Perspective
Philippians 1:12-14 says, “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”
When was the last time that you had something bad happen to you and you were able to focus on the good that could come out of it for the Kingdom of God? Your car broke down and you focused on the opportunity to talk to the tow truck guy. You didn’t get in to the school you really wanted to go to, and you looked at the opportunities you have at your second choice that you might not have had at the other. You had to have emergency surgery, but you had the opportunity to share your faith with the doctors and nurses who cared for you.
Paul was in prison due to his faith, but instead of pouting he looked for all the ways God could work through his incarceration. He had a captive audience in the palace guard, who couldn’t walk out on him when he talked about Jesus. This was an elite unit of men who had great influence in Rome. And his willingness to share his faith with them emboldened other Christians to share their faith as well.
And of course, there’s Jesus, Who took on punishment He didn’t deserve so He could provide salvation for the world.
As you pray today, ask God to help you face your disappointments and rough patches with a perspective that looks for what opportunities they bring for God’s Kingdom that smooth sailing would never have provided.