Trials – we all experience them. And while non-Christians sadly, often view them as negative situations that they wished they didn’t have to deal with, for the Christian these same trials should be viewed as steppingstones to manifest God’s greatness and His glory. The great Christian missionary, Hudson Taylor, shared great insight into this whole area of trials, pain, and suffering when he shared: “All our difficulties are only platforms for the manifestations of His grace, power and love.”1
When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers back in the book of Genesis, God used this trial, and the subsequent series of events in his life, to elevate Joseph to the position of prime minister of Egypt where he was able to save many people from starvation because of his wisdom given to him by God. You can read all about this amazing story in an earlier devotion from my website: Joseph – From Slave To Prime Minister – Bible Apologetics – A DAILY DEVOTIONAL
In this devotion I share one of the greatest verses in all of Scripture on how God uses even great pain and suffering for a future good and an opportunity for Him to display His grace, power, love, and glory. For we read: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20).
And at Calvary we see even a greater example of how God used the greatest trial a person could go through to bring about the greatest blessing ever for mankind. For the perfect, sinless Son of God suffered the supreme humiliation and excruciating torture of crucifixion and subsequent death to bring about redemption and salvation for countless millions of souls who came to accept Christ’s free gift of forgiveness of sin! Imagine, it took the death of God’s own sinless Son, Jesus Christ, to save millions of rebellious sinners from certain external death! So, if God can use the absolute worst thing that ever happened in history – Jesus’ death – to bring about the absolute best thing in history – salvation for countless millions of repentant sinners – imagine how He can use your trials and suffering for something great too!
And these two powerful stories from Scripture should give us the confidence that if God can bring glory through Joseph and Jesus then he can use you too, and your trials to make you a God glorifying vessel if we let Him. And no wonder the great Apostle Paul, who underwent many great trials and suffering, could proclaim: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28).
Christian, what about you? Are you facing illness, job loss, or some major personal tragedy? God can use even these painful circumstances within His greater plan for His glory. Our role is to trust Him, surrender our suffering, and allow Him to work through it in unique ways. Instead of asking, “Why me?” I would rather ask, “God, how can You use this hardship to bless others and make me a vessel for Your glory?”
1 James Hudson Taylor Quote: “All our difficulties are only platforms for the manifestations of His grace, power and love.”