For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity.
There is no time when a Christian stands out more than in times of calamity!
Sometimes we think that it is in times when all is going well that God’s hand is most evident in our lives, and that may be true from our perspective. But what shows the world the reality of Christ in our lives is not the times when all is going well, but the times when everything is turning bad.
The world knows all about joy and happiness and generosity in times of blessing. Blessing brings those same things out in them. But what the world knows nothing of is joy and happiness and generosity when you are battling cancer. They don’t know anything about the nearness of God in the midst of suffering.
What the world trusts in is their good circumstances. When those good circumstances disappear they are left groping, with nothing to trust in. That is when they notice the difference God makes in a person’s life! That is why suffering and sickness and financial straights are often a part of God’s plan for our lives. He wants people to see the difference He makes in our lives.
What are you going through now? Are you using this time to get closer to God and rely on Him more deeply?
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