God, why?

Acts 26-28 tells the story of Paul being arrested for the sake of the gospel and sailed to Italy to be tried. On their way, they experienced a storm, had to throw all their belongings out to lighten the ship during the storm, and they eventually experienced a shipwreck and arrived at the island of Malta literally holding on to planks from the ship that had fallen apart. When they got to Malta, Paul is accused of offending the ‘gods’ because why else would all these things happen to him? 

Reading this story, it is easy to stop and wonder why these things were happening to Paul. Where was God? I thought he was serving God, making sacrifices and preaching the gospel for Jesus? But what I found intriguing was that instead of complaining, Paul used these opportunities to share the gospel with the authorities while he was being tried. One of the things I have learned in my faith walk is that the bible never promised that the journey was going to be easy. The men who walked with God were never portrayed as having perfect lives. I once heard a minister say “if you like the product, make sure you like the price also.” If you want the results of the men of faith, it may be well worth looking into their journeys and seeing the prices they paid to be called the heroes of faith.

Joseph is sold into slavery, thrown into prison for standing for righteousness, then after interpreting the dream of the butler in prison, the butler is released and Joseph is forgotten there for another two years. All because he had a dream, and was passionate about it. We find that even in prison, Joseph was still serving others and telling them about his faith. 

When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus to be crucified, Peter cuts of the ear of one of the soldiers, and Jesus heals the soldier’s ear and says something profound to Peter: “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?” Jesus was crucified by the very people he healed, fed and worked miracles for. While on the cross, his crucifiers shouted at him to save Himself, which He very well could have done, yet He stayed on that cross for you and I.

One of the toughest lessons I have learned in my journey with God is that the storm doesn’t negate that you are in the will of God. Sometimes, God allows the tougher path and uses it to birth your destiny. He doesn’t let you go through it to crush you, but to build the strength and stamina needed for your promise. If Joseph had stepped into that position of influence in Egypt without the refining processes of character, he probably would have been a self-centered and ostentatious leader, and eventually missed the very essence of being placed in that position by God– preserving lives in Egypt. 

We have a brand of Christianity that promotes the idea that the journey of faith will be a perfect one. One without pressure, resistance and challenges whatsoever. And this brand is birthing fickle Christians that bend to the tides and value convenience over truth. Believers that value God only for the bread that He gives and not the bread that He is, and are quick to question where God is at the slightest inconvenience 

In Matthew 7:24-26, the house built on rock and the one built on sand both looked alike until the storm came. The question was not whether or not the storm was going to come, the question was what foundation the houses were built on. What is the point of faith if it only hinges on perfect situations. Your faith is truly SOLID when you know that regardless of what comes, you will remain rooted, trusting in the arms of the Father. That is Solid Faith. The storms will come, and instead of forbidding, begin to dig your wells of strength. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying you should excuse every evil to be God or allow the enemy afflict you. If you are a person of prayer and of the secret place, you will know when you should be casting and binding and when you should submit to the process and receive the strength to go through it. In the words of a wise man, faith doesn’t exclude us from pain, it helps us heal and deal. 

Your supernatural advantage as a believer may not always exclude you from challenges and natural processes that will help you grow. Believe you me, I do not intend to invalidate whatever struggle or uncomfortable situation you are currently experiencing in your faith walk. There is nothing wrong with you for having challenges. It doesn’t make you less of a believer. But sometimes, your prayer to God to eliminate a situation may be answered with strength to go through it instead, in order to birth what God desires in your life. Dear believer, build your wells of strength through: prayer, the word and tarrying in the presence of God. Listen to the words of the master and build your life on the solid foundation that never fails. 

Follow them who through faith and patience attained the promise. The Lord sees your work, He is not unjust to not reward you. You are writing your faith story, and its a privilege to walk the very path that the heroes of faith walked. Just as you have read about the faithfulness of others, people will hear and read about yours.