My Devotional When trials come, take courage and testify God’s goodness
By Liz Omondi | Email: timestodayke@gmail.com | Image credit: jixifox.me
11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Acts 23:11 (NIV)
you ice-cold treatment. Perhaps, you may not even be invited to social events where ordinarily you would be part of the team. Whichever the case, so long as it is about being a stickler to the authority of God’s word on all issues, like the apostles, we just ought to smile peace into our souls.
In fact James 1:2-4 encourages us to consider it pure joy, whenever we face I sat there reflecting what wrong I may have done, or said that caused them trials of many kinds. This joy comes with that inner peace, but it doesn’t to sideline me. Looking deep into my heart, I asked, why those whom con- stop there. We are encouraged to go on speaking the truth of God’s Word. sidered to be my friends would ignore me. Look for every opportunity whenever you are going through a trial to testify about God’s goodness in your life. His love, His mercy, His grace. Realising that I could be going through some kind of trial for speaking the truth of God’s word, I sensed peace flood my mind and once more I was at Turning to Paul’s life and all the suffering he had gone through for preachease. Just then, I remembered how Jesus’ disciples felt after they had been ing the good news of Jesus Christ, during one of his low moments when he thoroughly beaten for talking about Him. In Acts 5:41-42 it says, “The was in jail we read in Acts 23:11, “The following night the Lord stood near apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted wor- Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, thy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts so you must also testify in Rome.” and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” Knowing that it is very easy to get discouraged when the world seems to be against us, especially for the cause of Christ, God spurs us on. He This Scripture reminded me that if suffering has been caused by the good encourages us to continually testifying about Him. Several places in the you are doing for the cause of Christ, not to get discouraged and stop, but Scriptures, we see the Almighty God encouraging His people when they to actually keep on doing what God has called you to do. While our natu- are going through various trials. He reassures them of His presence. He ral tendency would be to get discouraged and be silenced from doing what says in Deuteronomy 31:6, “6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid is good, saying what is true, it may be a sign that you are actually doing or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will what is right and should continue. never leave you nor forsake you.”. Again Jesus tells us in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you In our world today, we may not necessarily go through the same kind of will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” trials the apostles went through. It may come in a very subtle manner. It could be that your contacts stop responding to your phone calls, or text Are you going through some kind of trial? Take courage and use it as an messages because of your stand on the truth of God’s word. It may be at opportunity to testify about God’s goodness in your life. your work place, you colleagues may stop interacting with you and give
TT 163 | August 2nd - 8th | 2022
