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"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
Last week, I heard a wonderful story that I just had to pass on to you. Derralee loves the Lord and is a member of our church in Austin, TX. She is a faithful servant of the Lord representing Christ well in the public school where she works. Years ago, she felt the Lord impress her to go and help at their church's student camp. She at first did not want to go, but the Lord confirmed to her that she was to go and serve. And serve she did! She spent the whole week helping many of the girls who were sick. Derralee was thinking to herself, "Was this the reason for coming, just to serve these sick girls?" Over a year later, she was asked by one of her students if she would help a friend who had gotten pregnant. She was only 15 years old and was hoping someone would take her to Mexico so she could have an abortion. Derralee and her student ministered to this pregnant teenager and helped her so that she decided to have the baby instead of getting an abortion. Derralee asked her student why she reached out to her for help. Her student said, "Last year, I saw how well you served and ministered to all those sick girls at camp, so I thought that you would help us out." Today, that teenager's baby is grown and enjoying a blessed life!
This week, we have been looking into the topic of suffering while in the will of God. There are times when we as His children are disciplined by God for our sins and disobedience to Him. He disciplines us because He loves us, as stated in Hebrews 12:6: "For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." But then there are times when we are precisely in the will of God, yet we run right into hardship and trouble.
The Apostle Paul knew what it was like to suffer while in the will of God. He would obey God's call on his life only to be beaten or shipwrecked and deserted by people he loved. But he kept pressing forward, knowing that even though times were hard, Jesus was with him and leading him. He realized that Jesus' grace was sufficient, and His strength was made perfect in Paul's weakness. Paul also wrote, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Are you currently suffering, not because of anything you have done wrong, but because you chose to do the right thing? Hang in there. The Lord who led you to this will lead you through it, and you will be better and stronger for it. In 1 Peter 2:20, Scripture teaches us, "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God."
May God continue to empower and strengthen you as you walk with Him in these hard times. He is with you. He loves you. You are going to make it!
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