Guest Post by Ray Kingrea of Tree of Life Ministries
Pastor Kingrea writes “The Journey” posts daily via his Facebook page. Follow him on Facebook here.
The JOURNEY- All This Trouble – 2Thess.1:5 MSG – “All this trouble is a clear sign that God has decided to make you fit for the Kingdom…”
The big problem with trouble is that we hate to be in it. Most of us can handle trouble as long as it doesn’t make us troubled. Our idea of trouble is that, if we stay away from trouble then trouble will stay away from us, but that’s just not the case.
There will be those times when trouble is like a magnet and we’re the metal. We get pulled into trouble and not even do anything to warrant the trouble we’re in. Is that fair? It depends on what God has planned for the trouble and how He will use the trouble.
Joseph got into a lot of trouble that wasn’t his fault and God used it to mold a man of integrity, honesty, leadership, and devotion. We want to be all that Joseph was but without trouble. We want to be like Christ but without the trouble He went through. Paul is reminding us that the trouble we’re in “is a clear sign that God has decided to make you (us) fit for the Kingdom.”
So now you can look at trouble differently. You can say “It’s not fair, I didn’t bring this on!” and pout about it, or you can square up your shoulders and walk with spiritual tenacity and allow God to use it “to make you fit for the Kingdom.” Listen, don’t fight God in this. Let Him do the work in you, and on you, that He’s chose for you so that you’ll be fit for His Kingdom.
