Paul: Trusting God When We Don’t Understand His Strategy
Paul: Trusting God When We Don’t Understand His Strategy
Did you know God is always at work in your life? This is a truth people often miss because God usually works in ways we don’t understand.
Acts 21:27-36 tells the story of the Apostle Paul being ruthlessly beaten at the hands of a Jewish mob in the Temple courts in Jerusalem, all because of rumors and false accusations made against him. In fact, verses 31-32 tell us they were trying to kill him! Can you imagine Paul praying, "Lord, please don't let me go through this! Please send an angel to zap those people who are trying to kill me! God, help me!" God did help Paul, but not in the way he might have asked or expected. God carried Paul to safety through a garrison of Roman soldiers. God was at work in Paul’s life even though he couldn't possibly have understood the strategy at the time!
Paul’s career as a prisoner had officially begun, ultimately leading to the fulfillment, according to Romans 1:11-15, of his fondest desire…and that was to see Rome. Little did Paul know that his time spent in Rome would produce some of the most impressive epistles to ever come from his pen, and, that as a result of his faithful testimony, many in Rome would be saved, even some in Caesar’s household (Philippians 4:22). Paul also didn't know that Christians throughout the ages would be inspired by his testimony of faith, in chains, and would follow in his footsteps. Beloved, everything happens for a reason. Just as God carried Paul, He will carry you!
You may not understand the wisdom of it all at the time, but, like Paul, you can trust God, even when you don’t understand His strategy, because God’s plans for you, according to Jeremiah 29:11, “…are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Beloved, God is always at work in your life, for your good and for His glory! Praise the Lord!
This is Laine Wilder for Carry the Light Ministries, bringing you Insights From an Elder.
by Laine Wilder
author of “Insights From an Elder” for
Carry the Light Ministries
