Twenty years ago, I went rafting down the Ocoee River near Ducktown, TN. I remember the pre-rafting talk that the guide gave to us where he stated: “if you fall into the water do not put your feet down, rather keep them up as you are pushed downstream”. The reason for such instruction is so that you would not get your foot caught in the rocks at the bottom, and drown due to the force of the river. On the trip downstream, our raft flipped over and we were left in the water with the instruction he had given us. I will admit that it felt natural to put my feet down; however, I fought against it and swam over to the bank with my feet up.
I find an interesting phenomenon in the life of believers, myself included. Despite all the instruction that we have from the Lord about trials, when adversity hits our lives we tend to put our feet down because we don’t like the way it feels; it is like we believe that somehow God’s will is not being accomplished in our difficulties. Let’s take a lesson from the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:12-13 “ Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else”.
Paul saw his adversity as an opportunity to witness for the Lord, and because of that many heard about Christ. What trial are you going through? How can it be used to witness for Jesus?
Blessings,
Jeff