In Philippians 1:13, the Apostle Paul points out the fact that everyone, including the whole palace guard, knew he was in chains because of Jesus.
Paul was in prison. He was chained to a different guard every few hours.
He had a captive audience until the next shift comes in. As these guards are listening to Paul preach all day, they have to be wondering who the real prisoner is. God was using what some would see as a negative situation to advance the Gospel.
To be clear, this wasn’t Paul’s plan. It is not what he would have chosen. He could choose to complain about his circumstances, but since he couldn’t change them, he decided to see them from a positive perspective. Paul knew God was at work and he would bring good from his situation.
When I am in a place I don’t like, I want to remember that God still has a plan. That is not always easy, is it? In the hard places, it is tough to remember God still has a plan. But God always has a purpose. He still had an assignment for Paul.
Your situation may not be what you would have chosen, but that doesn’t mean God can’t use it. Do we believe Romans 8:28 is true or not? “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” If we believe it, then why don’t we act like it?
Paul was chained to a Roman soldier 24 hours a day. What are you chained to? What/who is holding you captive? Are you chained to a painful relationship, a difficult situation or a financial problem?
Maybe you feel like you are in a hole that you don’t know how you’re going to get out of. If you can do something about it, then do something about it. But if you can’t change your circumstances with God’s help, be willing to change your perspective.
Change the way you look at that difficult situation that is holding you back. Change the way you think about it. Change the words that you speak about it. Choose to look for the good. Choose to believe God is at work.
While everything may still not be perfect on the other side of what you are going through right now, you can acknowledge God is using the experience to shape you and mold you more and more into the image of Christ.
Steve Greene is the lead pastor of The Point in Seymour. Read his blog at pastorgreene.wordpress.com or email him at [email protected]. Send comments to [email protected].