What if we started to see our disappointments as God-appointments? Our obstacles as opportunities? Our chains as a chance to share the Good News of Jesus? In the Bible, Paul 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” (Phil. 1:12-14, NIV). Because of Paul’s boldness, other believers became bold in sharing the Good News.
No doubt, Paul would’ve preferred another method of getting the Gospel out. Maybe one that allowed him to walk freely instead of being constantly chained to a guard. He might’ve preferred to stand in front of crowds of people instead of sitting with one captive audience member at a time. He might’ve preferred to preach bold sermons instead of writing long letters. But Paul’s
preferences weren’t as important as God’s purpose. Paul realized his disappointments were actually God-appointments.
Twenty-four hours a day, Paul was linked up, quite literally, with someone who was lost. And every six hours the guards had a shift change. Let’s do some quick math. Two years. That’s 730 days. Times the 4 guards each day. Equals at least 2,920 shifts that required guards who would need to be chained to Paul. Which means Paul had 2,920 opportunities to share the Good News.
While Paul couldn’t escape the guards, the guards also couldn’t escape Paul. While Paul didn’t get a moment of privacy from his captors, they couldn’t get a moment of privacy from his commentary. Those, my friends, aren’t disappointments; they’re God-appointments.
Your past hurt can help someone else discover healing. Your victory over addiction can encourage someone that they can see victory, too. Or maybe you’re like me, and God has brought you through a painful time of depression. He can use it as an opportunity to share His joy.
You can discover happiness by chasing God’s purpose. When you let your trouble become your testimony, your struggle become your story, and your misery to become your ministry. God can use that for His purpose.