An incident that happened 20 years ago in our Middle Eastern country.
It was late evening. A local believer, Earl and an expat worker stood looking at the mess: paint splashed on the walls, windows broken, the furniture and curtains a charred mass in the center of the room and water damage from the fire department. After two weeks of getting the newly rented building ready to serve as a church, this was disheartening, especially since it was the second such attack.
Then, hearing a noise, Earl turned to see a hulking fellow step into the room. The newcomer began uttering threats, his slurred speech showing that he was at least partially drunk. He then pulled out a knife to back up his words. Earl and the worker were able to disarm the man and hailed a passing police car, which took the attacker to the local police station.
They went, too, to give a statement to the police. The attacker told the captain that Earl had called him in and offered him $100 to become a Christian; this had made him so mad that he took Earl’s knife to threaten him! The police captain not only believed the attacker, but said he would crush Earl and what he was trying to accomplish in starting a church! And in the end the police did just that.
Such situations must be looked at from a Scriptural viewpoint. As Psalm 91 tells us, God will protect us from true harm, His faithfulness is our shield. However, we must realize that God’s definition of harm may be different than ours, that is, harm in His mind is what will damage us spiritually.
Suffering can be good rather than harm. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance…” (Jam. 1:2-3) The untrained runner can never expect to do well. We need to trust, pray and act in wisdom in response to suffering, disappointments and losses
Prayer: “Lord help me today to look to you in the difficulties that come, to praise you for what you are going to do whether it lines up with my desires or not. Be glorified today in my trust of you through praise. Amen”