Why Things Happen to You
Philippians 1:12
“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;”
Paul answered an age old question that many have concerning the problems they face in their life. When you look at the life of the Apostle Paul, you see that he had many things happen to him. For instance, why would God allow Paul to be beaten with rods? Why would God allow Paul to have to go to prison for preaching the Gospel of Christ? Why would God allow the ship in which he traveled to wreck three times? Why would God allow Paul to have to face the dangers he faced in his ministry? Why would God allow Paul to have to suffer a painful eye disease? I am sure these questions crossed Paul’s mind at different times, but Paul answered the “Why” question in this chapter.
First, these things happened so that the Gospel of Christ could reach places that it could not reach if it were not for Paul’s sufferings. Christian, you must understand that God will use whatever tool He can to allow the Gospel to be furthered. Whenever you go through a trial, that trial will allow you to reach someone who could not be reached any other way. There is someone who is facing the exact same trial that you face and before their heartache they would never listen to someone trying to give them the Gospel. However, because you are going through the same struggles that they face, they will allow you to talk to them about the Gospel. There are many stories about someone who was able to lead a person to Christ in the hospital bed next to them. There are many stories of people who led someone to Christ as they received treatment for a disease. There are many stories of doctors who got saved from a patient who was being treated by them. One of the reasons God allows you to go through the things you are currently facing is because it allows you to bring the Gospel to places that it could not have reached before.
Second, these things happened so that others would become a more confident witness. Paul said that because he endured these things, many brethren waxed more confident and bold. His heartaches caused others to be a bolder witness for Christ. Likewise, if you will continue to be a witness for Christ during your trials, your witness will challenge others to be a stronger witnesses themselves.
Christian, though we don’t always like what we have to face, if we would realize that God could use these instances in our lives to further His cause, then you could endure them in a better fashion. You must believe that God will reward you at the judgment seat of Christ. This is the only way you will be able to endure your trials. Without this confidence you will struggle.
Yes, there is a reason why you face the things you face, and that reason is so that many people can get saved. Take comfort in the fact that you are not facing your struggles for no reason. Realize that one day you will see many people in Heaven because your trials caused others to get saved. Take whatever you are facing today and realize that it is a tool used of God to reach others for Christ.
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