“Your trial is going to last for two and half years.” What?!
Who wants to hear that? Who wants to live their lives looking forward to that? Not me, and I’m sure not you. If we were given the details of the next two and a half years, it would hinder our trust in the Lord and stifle our walk of faith.
I know many of you reading this are living in trials that are lasting a lot longer than that, and you’re tired, maybe even ready to call it quits. Part of your thinking is that if only you had known what was up ahead, it would have been easier for you to endure. It’s a novel thought, but it’s wrong. You have to change your thinking.
1 Peter 4:12–13 (NKJV) “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”
Paul faced so many obstacles and challenges as he followed Christ. One of them was a season of about two and half years enduring false accusations, rough interrogations, imprisonment, and an attempted murder of his life (Acts 22-28). These all came as a result of Paul walking through an open door!
Open door? Yes, an open door. I like open doors, don’t you? Typically, when we use the language of open and closed doors as they reflect our relationship with God, we think open doors equal good and closed doors equal bad. Many times, that’s exactly true. But sometimes trials come through open doors. And sometimes, open doors come at the end of a trial.
1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV): “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
I don’t know exactly what you’re facing today, but I’m sorry it’s painful. Whatever it is, God is at work. He is with you. He is your Rock. He is your Strength. He will use what you’re in right now to open doors for you to serve and help others. It’s His way with us.
To think that a two-and-a-half-year trial could actually be the place where God opens amazing doors for you is hard to receive but necessary to believe! You need to have your eyes open and your heart ready to take advantage of the situation for the gospel.
Paul could boldly and clearly share his testimony with key leaders in the spiritual and secular world because he was on trial.
God wants to use your trial to open doors and empower you to love people in His name. You’ll have to change your thinking, though. Your posture must go from “Whoa is me” to “Whoa, this is from You.”
Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV): “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
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