by Dr. Paul Chappell

"Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath."

John 5:8-9

God's purpose for your life is sometimes fulfilled through your suffering.

Many people are familiar with the book My Utmost for His Highest a book that was penned by the Christian teacher Oswald Chambers. Chambers was born to Christian parents who trained him well, and after feeling called to the ministry, he founded a Bible college in London. While he wasn't especially gifted in the area of writing, Chambers' wife recorded all his teachings and developed them into instructional books later in his life. Feeling called to help in World War 1, Chambers suspended the Bible college's activities and joined as a chaplain, sent to troops in Egypt.

While in Egypt he did his best to minister to Scottish and New Zealand troops stationed there. After suffering from stomach pains for three days and refusing to take a hospital bed from a soldier, Chambers died from a ruptured appendix at the age of 43.

Among his many published thoughts and teachings is a quote about God's healing. Chambers dealt with many injured and suffering men during the war, as well as faced extreme trials himself. During one such trial he is quoted as saying, "Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace."

Imagine if the lame man had never been lame. Imagine if he had never been at the pool of Bethesda, suffered through inability to reach the water, and experienced loneliness. The lame man's lameness led him to Christ.

Often we think of God's healing as the taking away of a disease or difficulty, but God's trials always have purposes. As Oswald Chambers said, faith for deliverance is not faith in God. Faith in God accepts the trial and trusts God's perfect will to be done.

I'm sure there were times the lame man questioned if he would ever be healed. I'm sure he questioned the worth of his existence as he lay by a pool unable to help himself and without someone to help him. Yet as he endured through his suffering, Jesus came and healed him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."

Jesus' plan was to heal this man and show to all around that healing doesn't come simply from a pool, but from the very Son of God. God's purpose was fulfilled through this man's suffering.

Have you ever stopped to realize that God's purpose for your life is sometimes fulfilled through your suffering? What we view as painful and unnecessary, God views as glorifying. We can't understand God's purpose behind everything that happens in our lives, but we can trust not just for our deliverance, but for His glorification through our trials.

Are you going through a trial? God's immediate healing would be a wonderful thing, would it not? Don't focus on your deliverance, but rather think about God's eternal purpose and plan in your trial. God does have a purpose for your situation, and He does desire to work through you, but you must allow Him to. Most lost people question God during difficulties, but as God's child, realize that His will is being done, and use your trial to honor and glorify Him wherever you go.

To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.

Daily Bible Reading
Nehemiah 1-3 | Acts 2:1-21