TROUBLES.
Have you ever heard people speak of having a “platform, ” to share the Gospel referring perhaps to being an athlete and having opportunities to share because of it, or others in the public eye may too feel they have a “platform.” Which is wonderful as the LORD “opens doors” of opportunities, but what about the rest of us who are not well known or not in what is considered a prominent job, or hold a position that is esteemed. Are we merely bystanders cheering others on? No, dear ones “In Christ,” the LORD God Omnipotent is, has, and will use you and some of those ways is through something you know well that others also have and are or will experience that you have in common with then, namely “troubles, trials” and God can use these and often does to refine us, prepare us, equip us to share with others, for His glory and their well- being, spiritual well- being. So, be encouraged your troubles can be a springboard to effective testimony and service for the LORD Jesus in serving others for His sake… Be encouraged as you read along…. and know you have a “PLATFORM” that God has, is, and will use because of the troubles in life you have known or presently know. You’ve been as it were “drafted” by the LORD to represent Him in this world, and I know by His grace you will be a shining testimony to Him as He sanctifies you, beginning about inward change to help others, like me. And we are not speaking about perfection but this new work god is doing “IN YOU, ” as Phil 1:6 and 2:13 teach. So let’s have a look together at “Troubles” and their potential benefit and your “Platform…”
“Troubles” are inevitable, “when,” not “if” but “when” you encounter trials. -{James 1:2-5}.
Troubles of “various” types.-{James 1:2}.
Troubles can cause you to be “distressed” -“suffer”– {1 Peter 1:6}
Troubles are “common” not exclusive to you or me alone. -{1 Cor 10:13}.
But in our troubles we are offered hope from His Word to know God is sovereignly in control,-{Read Psalm135:6; Matt 28:18;2 Chron 20:6} and working all things including this very thing you or I am encountering for our ultimate good and His honor, {Rom 8:28-29} and to know Him better {Phil 3:8,10} and change us by conforming us to the image of Christ and enabling us to spread His Fame and Name in the circumstances we find ourselves in -{Phil 1:12-14; Matt 5:16}.
Troubles can be a Platform-For Change,
…not only in our lives but in the lives of those whom we encounter in our circumstances, reaching out to them for His sake!- {Read Phil 1:12-14;Phil 3;8,10}
Troubles can be a Platform -For Strengthening
…and maturing our faith-{Read Rom 5:3-5; James 1:2-5,12}
Placing our troubles in His hands will never be wasted as we follow Him. Troubles are not always a sign of God’s displeasure as some would wrongly believe, that if they are following the LORD they should be kept from pain, sorrows and troubles of any kind as a sign of their “superiority” as “good” Christians, piety. But not so, Jesus said “in this world you will have TROUBLE” but note the hope He gives in the rest of that verse, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”-{John 16:33}. Paul, Peter, Jesus, Stephen, Timothy and others faced troubles, does that mean God was displeased with them as though troubles were “punishment” and a sign of His displeasure? Not so!
Troubles are – Inevitable,
…thet come in various types are not exclusive to us as though no one else has them but troubles do not ultimately triumph, though at times we may succumb to them but Jesus has and will triumph in these troubles as He uses them to His end among which are He is making a man or woman of faith and using them for His Name, spreading His Fame as He did with among others Job, ” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”-{Job 1:8}; or Timothy whom the Scripture says was “frequently sick” easily intimidated and young so that people would give no credence to his words because of his youth, yet Paul testifies of him “I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.”-{Phil 2;20-22}.
Timothy’s “Troubles” did not hinder him from seeking the good of others- seeking their welfare and the promotion of the Gospel.
In your troubles look who is around you to serve, pray for, love, reach out to. As Paul and Silas were in trouble and placed in a prison yet Divine LOVE triumphed and a jailer and his household came to know Jesus Christ because as God was Sovereign in Paul and Silas Troubles and using them for His good.. ,so too He is Sovereign over your troubles and has and will use them for His Good, His Name and Fame. Paul in prison said “I Paul the prisioner of Christ FOR the sake of you Gentiles.”-{Eph 3:1}. Paul was in those circumstances for the sake of OTHERS! He knew this, His view was Higher and he looked at his troubles through the Lens of God’s Sovereign love…for others!
Troubles Can Be Platforms -To Comfort Others;
As used in 2 Cor 1:3-4. Out of your “afflictions” the word speaks of great pressures, crushing, God who comforts us in our afflictions, commissions us to comfort others, one reason He comforts us is to know Him more intimately and to be used of Him more compassionately. “…who comforts us in all our affliction SO THAT we will be able to comfort those who are in [a]any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” -{2 Cor 1:3-4}. Note, God comforts is in “all” not just some but “all” inclusive of afflictions we go through this is HOPE, the certainty that in our pain, distress, troubles God will keep His promise to comfort us in “ALL” our afflictions and then note the words “SO THAT” He commissions us to comfort others who are crushed with the comfort He has comforted us with.
DID YOU EVER THINK THAT EVEN AT THIS MOMENT THROUGH YOUR OWN SORROWS, HURTS, AND TROUBLES GOD IS EQUIPPING YOU TO BE A COMFORT FOR SOMEONE ELSE!
You can say, “I have troubles but God is Sovereign over my troubles and these too will work out for good and His Glory and the benefit of others.”
Troubles may change your circumstances but don’t allow them to change your perspective – Your assignment is still Loving God and Others! {Read Matt 22:37}.
Keep living by faith in Him seeking His Kingdom as the priority of daily living!
And Has God not promised that He causes “all thigs to work together for good to those who Love God and are the called.” And you love Him who first loved you. And these “troubles and all future “troubles, “ are part of the “ALL THINGS” he will work together eternal good as well as present good such as some of the “platforms” mentioned above for you.
You don’t need to be a successful athlete or prominent public figure to have a “platform, ” for you have through your identification with the crucified Savir and Resurrected LORD Jesus you have “platform,” through identification with Him. Glory!
God Bless and encourage you. You are not alone in your troubles, God is with you, for you, and working them all for your spiritual good – though it does not feel like it. He is! -{Read Romans 8:28-30}
Aidan,