How Crises Clarify

I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.

Philippians 1:12

When new Christians begin memorizing Bible verses, Philippians 4:4 is almost always included: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” But when those young Christians discover that Paul wrote that verse while confined to prison, shackled in chains, the words suddenly take on a whole new meaning: rejoice always, even when your faith might cost you your life!

Crises have a way of forcing us to clarify what we actually believe. Paul was excited when his faith landed him in prison, because he discovered that the gospel was being preached even more. In other words, his crisis was not a crisis of faith; it was a crisis because of his faith. And it was a crisis that resulted in his faith being strengthened, not weakened. When Peter was charged with being friends with Christ, he denied that the relationship existed (Matthew 26:69-75). The shame he felt caused him to clarify his faith, and it never failed him again.

The next time you face a crisis, your faith will be clarified one way or the other—either strong or weak. Plan now to be pleased with what that crisis reveals.

The purest suffering produces the purest understanding.

JOHN OF THE CROSS