|
The Test And The Process -All For Good
by Oge Maduka Despise not the TEST that comes before the TESTIMONY and the PROCESS before the PURPOSE. If God allowed it then His grace is guaranteed. Let us tap into the story of this young girl named Malala Yousafzai... Her story is not a fairy tale, neither is it an old story from the Bible. It is as good as it comes, real, fresh and still unfolding... because the world hasn't heard the last of her. I perceive her story to be a perfect analogy of a sudden twist of fate and a beautiful concurrence of the Biblical quotation that 'All things work together for good to them that love God and are called according His purpose' Romans 8:28. Just two years ago, most people in the world never knew she existed. All she had going in her little world was the belief that girls should be allowed to get an education. A simple cause, and yet complicated in a country where extremist fought hard to quench the western education. With a rare courage and at great risk, she spoke out and insisted that girls must go to school. She believed in her advocacy and fearlessly pursued it. On that fateful black day, at the age of 15, the Talibans shot her on the head, to silence her small voice. They left her to die, but she didn't. The enemy literally knocked her down. But was she out? No! Sometimes, we all get knocked down. When that happens, we should get up, more determined, and move on. For this young girl, it was a very dark period of her life and her loved ones. Some neighbours would have said 'poor girl' out of sympathy and some may have said 'serves that stubborn girl right'. That's exactly what happens when we are knocked down. There are sympathizers and their are mockers. In this fallen state, nobody could have convinced Malala and her family, that any thing good will come out of the situation. That is natural. But when the supernatural shows up, the natural bows out. When things are really looking bad, it is difficult for us to see how any good can come out of the situation. But like I always say, it's not about what we can see, but about what God can do. A quick look at what the pain of that bullet brought into Malala's life... One, over 2 million Pakistanis signed a petition which led to the ratification of her country 's first Right to Education bill. History was made because of her. Two, She became the youngest Nobel Peace price winner. She made another history...The Lord certainly set a table for her, while her enemies watched her on TV. Three, her life made a 360 degrees turn around. She moved from a little voice in her city to a universal household voice. Four, it took the pain of the bullet to catapult her to fame and a star who now dines with presidents. International assemblies now gather to listen to her story. I am reminded of Psalm 113 :7-8 which say; 'He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. Five, It took the painful process of the bullet to move Malala Yousafzai to a new land- her place of purpose. She is now a resident of the United Kingdom. A better platform and opportunity to express herself and be more educated. Six, a new improved courageous version of Malala was born. According to her, the Talibans that shot her only succeeded in making her stronger, fearless of death and more determined to fight. What a huge loss for the Talibans. They only shot her body but not her dream as Malala rightly noted. Seven, need I say she is now a very rich girl, with lots of grants to fight her cause. All these within a space of two years from the day she was shot. Awesome God! Ironically, Malala's major fear, while in a british hospital was how her family may need to sell a land in her village, to pay her hospital bills. Little did she know, that world powers will be scrambling to pick up her bills and be associated with her. In different ways, most of us can relate to this story, especially if you have ever emerged from trials that seemed hopeless. What test are you going through today. How painful is the process? Faint not...The Lord will set before you in the presence of your enemies. Can you start trusting God today, in every circumstance? Even if it appears His hands can't be seen or the pain is too much to understand, trust Him, to turn everything around for your good. His thoughts for us are of good and not of evil. To take us to that expected end. He will never disappoint His children, no matter the picture the enemy is painting. Remember: For every raw material to become a fine finished product, it must go through various stages of processing and it must be tested. The clay must be processed in the hands of the potter to become a vessel of great use. We are clay in the hands of the Potter. His only target is to mold us into a character fit for His use. Sometimes He lets us go through fire refine us. We need to trust God enough to know that He is a perfecter of all that concerns us by removing our eyes from the situation and focus on Him alone that can do all things. That fall is not the end of the journey. It is a propeller to the destination and purpose. We are in the hollow of His Hands. Despise not the test nor the process... LORD, teach us to trust you even when it is painful to do so...Thank you that all things are working together for our own good and according to your purpose. Ogechukwu Maduka is a christain evangelist and a lawyer who loves to write as a means to inspire. A passionate humanitarian and an ardent believer in upholding the digniity of man. She is happily married and blessed with four lovely children. Email: [email protected] Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |