Monday, July 6, 2009

Puzzled Saints

Most of us have faced life circumstances that have broken our hearts, tried our faith and left our minds spinning with questions. We cannot understand why he does not heal us or bring us the answers we so desperately need.

The prophets in the Old Testament also were puzzled over their life circumstances. They knew God had told them that a deliverer was coming, yet they saw no signs of the Anointed One’s arrival. They sought God for answers and he revealed to them that what he had told them was not for their generation but for a generation hundreds or thousands of years later (1 Peter 1:10-12).

Paul mentions that God used a physical illness to cause him to minister to the people who lived in Galatia (Galatians 4:13-14). Unless he had suffered this physical setback he may have missed the opportunity all together.

We are not only God’s children, but we are his messengers. We do well to remember our suffering may not only be for our spiritual growth, but may be the tool God uses to reach others with his love.