Obstacle=Divine Opportunity

Your prison can be your pulpit. This is the message of Paul in Philippians. It's all about perspective and Paul's is that anything that furthers the gospel of Christ is gain.

God specializes in using our trials for his gain. Often we find ourselves in impossible situations. We see these situations as setbacks, but God sees then as setups. He's got it all figured out and all you have to do is stop asking why and start saying "What now God?" Your trials today are the testimony of tomorrow.

There are so many examples out there of people who struggled through their trials and came out on top! They were better for what they went through. Psalm 66: 10-12 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.¹¹ You brought us into the net;You laid affliction on our backs.¹² You have caused men to ride over our heads;We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.  Notice the underlined portion of this verse. It's really all about Perspective. 

I know that trials will come. Some of them will seem insurmountable and others will seem tiny. God doesn't bring us to the trial to hurt us, but to bring us through the trial. Look at Paul in Philippians he was chained to the Roman soldiers. Paul wanted nothing more than to bring Christianity to Rome. He longed to teach of Christ in Rome, but that seemed impossible. However, here he was chained to soldiers. These influential men were a captive audience and one by one Paul preached to them. He could have cried out in agony at his plight in prison. He could have asked God, "Why me?" He could have grown angry with God and turned away. Surely imprisonment was terrible, but Paul saw that some things are bigger than our dicomfort.


I've said it before and I am sure I will say  it again: what it comes down to is your faith. No matter the trial you have to ask yourself, "Do I have enough faith for this?" Matthew 17:20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.  He won't desert you in your time of need, and that time may be the opportunity for you to witness to someone who wouldn't hear the message if it weren't for you. In the situation that seems impossible will you have the faith to ask God, "What Now?" No more asking why, No more making Excuses, set your pride aside, and ask him what he wants from you in this situation. A lot of things that we worry about don't really matter. Ask yourself 100 years from now will this matter? If the answer is no then you need to stop worrying and start doing!
Philippians 3:8   Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 

James1:2  ² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

Lead me to the Cross

Savior I come
Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I
Tempted and trialed
You are
Te word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen

To your heart
To your heart
Lead me to your heart
Lead me to your heart