A Testimony out of Challenges

Challenges! This word is what most of the people don't want to face in life. People love being in their comfort zone. But in our daily life, we face different types of challenges. We want to go away from it, but challenges peruse us in many ways. The trials and obstacles will never end. We try our best to serve God and make Him happy with our conducts. We are encouraged to do more for God. But sometimes problems and challenges come our way. That creates disappointments in our heart. We begin to ask questions to God. We become discouraged, and that affects our ministry, personal and family life.

The great biblical characters were also intimidated by the challenges they faced. Moses was discouraged with the misconduct of the Israelites. Samuel was hindered by the problems that were created by King Saul. King David's life was full of obstacles. Peter was depressed because of his fall. Paul was plagued with the thorn in his body. They are just some of the examples from the Bible. There are many more who were tested in their lives with many means and reasons. As, I am working in South Asia, where Hindus and Muslims are in the majority, I am facing significant challenges in evangelism and ministry. The difficulties of opposition, rejection, and persecution are before me.

But we have a strong and living hope, that is, faith in God. Our God is the one who makes a way always in problems. Moses and all Israelites were in trouble. The danger of the Egyptian army was behind them. The obstacle of the waving sea was before them. But God made a way miraculously for them. God made a way for them on the water. God said to Moses, "But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea." (Exodus 14:16)  God's working style is entirely different than us. He is the God of the supernatural. He is the God who makes the flower lotus to blossom in the midst of mud and water. He wants us to be like the lotus, growing among challenges of mud and waters.

Challenges are always there. But God wants to make a testimony out of that. No testimony was ever created without turmoil. We all have our cross of problems that we need to carry. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."(Matthew 14:24)  All of these problems, challenges, and obstacles will not last forever. With the mighty intervention of God, all will be gone. But God will let those difficulties be in our lives until He creates a testimony out of them. That's how our God works in our lives. We have a wonderful promise from God. In Revelation 21:5, God says, "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." God will never put us to shame. "They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed." Psalms 34:5  So, let us not be discouraged, broken and shattered with all the challenges that we face in our daily life. Let us be encouraged because God wants to make a testimony out of our challenges.