My Devotional: When trials come, take courage and testify God's goodness

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)

I sat there reflecting what wrong I may have done, or said that caused them to sideline me. Looking deep into my heart, I asked, why those whom considered to be my friends would ignore me.

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 ease. Just then, I remembered how Jesus’ disciples felt after they had been thoroughly beaten for talking about Him. I

n Acts 5:41-42 it says,

“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”

This Scripture reminded me that if suffering has been caused by the good you are doing for the cause of Christ, not to get discouraged and stop, but to actually keep on doing what God has called you to do. While our natural tendency would be to get discouraged and be silenced from doing what is good, saying what is true, it may be a sign that you are actually doing what is right and should continue.

In our world today, we may not necessarily go through the same kind of 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 messages because of your stand on the truth of God’s word. It may be at your work place, you colleagues may stop interacting with you and give

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 trials of many kinds. This joy comes with that inner peace, but it doesn’t stop there. We are encouraged to go on speaking the truth of God’s Word. 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.

Turning to Paul’s life and all the suffering he had gone through for preaching the good news of Jesus Christ, during one of his low moments when he was in jail we read in Acts 23:11, “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.”

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 encourages us to continually testifying about Him. Several places in the Scriptures, we see the Almighty God encouraging His people when they are going through various trials. He reassures them of His presence. He says in Deuteronomy 31:6, “6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will 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 will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Are you going through some kind of trial? Take courage and use it as an opportunity to testify about God’s goodness in your life.