God knows how to turn our misery into mission. He did just that for Apostle Paul. A quick check at his conversion story will reveal the scope of assignment that God had for him. “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:15 NKJV. His mandate covered witnessing Christ to gentiles, kings, and to a reasonable extent, the children of Israel. How did God make him to carry this out? It was through what we will ordinarily call misery. He was chained and put in prison. The chains actually became an avenue for him to stand before kings, fulfilling part of the original mission God had for him.
In all situations…Figure out how all things can add somewhat to the overall purpose of God for you…Whatever He allows will be convertible to your advantage and advance you in realising your place in God.
From our text, we realise that Paul would not want the brethren in Philippi to hold a pity party for him while he was in jail. Rather, he wanted them to see the opportunity to do ministry that came along with his incarceration. He made them to know that his imprisonment and chains were fulfilling the purpose God had for him. In all situations, think about your mission in (and from) God. Figure out how all things can add somewhat to the overall purpose of God for you. Become fully persuaded that God will not allow anything that will hurt your purpose in life. Whatever He allows will be convertible to your advantage and advance you in realising your place in God.
