Paul provides perspective during a dark season

I absolutely love God and I am so thankful for all the blessings that he gives to his children and of course, we know that every good and perfect gift comes from our Father, reads James 1:17.

This great God that we serve desires to have a close and intimate relationship with his children by which he can share his love and his heart for this world. I also long to have that closeness with him but throughout my life, I’ve come to learn that my greatest moments of intimacy with God have occurred during my darkest seasons. It was in those darkest seasons of depression, fear, marital discord, financial struggle, and loneliness that I have learned to intimately know the Lord. These moments bring me to my knees and cause me to call out to him and when I do, I get a glimpse of his love. Perhaps you may ask, “How is this possible?” I believe that the answer is found in one word, “perspective.”

In the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul is in a Roman prison awaiting trial and the church of Philippi was very worried about his condition. In this prison Paul says something so very powerful, “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ,” according to Philippians 1:12-13, English Standard Version.

Paul had amazing perspective about this dark season, he actually thanked God for his chains because his chains were being used to advance the Kingdom of God. This perspective simply amazes me and it challenges me to trust God through everything that I go through, positive or negative. Today, if you find yourself in a tight place, please understand that God is for you and he is working out something inside of you to pull out the greatness that he has deposited deep within your soul. I believe that these hard seasons of life are where God works his greatest miracles inside of us, we must learn to trust and have the right perspective, our chains are in Christ. Be encouraged today and always remember, God loves you.

This column was written on behalf of the Moses Lake Christian Ministerial Association.