Through Challenges to Wonders
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:8–10
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
Through Challenges to Wonders
Father God, help us to believe that you can do the impossible even in the midst of difficult situations. Use our challenges to evolve us into a wonder, O Lord, and renew our faith.
“Whatever doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger.” This common adage has some truth to it, though it may sound a bit pessimistic. God desires to evolve you into a wonder through the challenges you endure, but His Word gives assurance that these challenges will not kill you. God wants to manifest His glory through you, so you can become a wonderful child of God like David and Solomon.
David’s life was wrought with challenges that were, in reality, stepping stones. One difficulty was his lowly ancestry. His grandmother Ruth had lost all her possessions. Yet, Boaz redeemed Ruth and they begat Obed, which means “a servant and worshipper of God.” Obed begat Jesse, which means “Yahweh exists.” Then Jesse begat David. Indeed, David came from a humble family.
David faced conflict with his family. He was rejected; his father doubted that David could really be king though Samuel had anointed him. Considered unimportant by his family, David was sent to the field to tend sheep. But this only caused him to embrace God. David learned to praise God in spite of his circumstances and developed an intense intimacy with God and His Holy Spirit. David’s challenges trained him for the future when Israel would need someone to defend God’s name. Because David had such a close relationship with God, he rose to the occasion and fearlessly fought Goliath the giant. God helped him defeat Goliath and his fame spread, causing David to become a wonder for all generations.
The life of David illustrates that evolving into a wonder will initially have challenges that limit the possibility of that person becoming a wonder. But God carries us through our challenges, turning trials into training grounds; a means of polishing and disciplining His children. I pray that the status of your family or any other challenge will not inhibit your realization of the truth: you are meant to be a wonder in Jesus’ name.
Solomon, David’s son, is another man who evolved into a wonder. He was born through scandal; his mother, Bathsheba had committed adultery. Therefore, his brother Adonijah, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, was favoured to be king. However, Adonijah was not groomed nor had he been trained through tests and trials, so his kingship did not last.
Solomon, the one who was serving and the one who had overcome foundational challenges, was able to use these difficulties as stepping stones. He replaced Adonijah as king because he had a spirit of service. In 1 Kings 3, we see that Solomon gave not two or three, but thousands of burnt offerings. God then gave Solomon the anointing to become a wonder forever. 1 Kings 4–10 is filled with all the blessings God showered upon Solomon.
I pray in the name of Jesus that you will be metamorphosed into a wonder. God can evolve you despite your circumstances. With God and the Holy Spirit in your life, the gifts of the Spirit will transform you into a wonder. Yes, the spiritual gifts along with the fruit of the Spirit will work together within you through training, maturity, and manifestation to evolve you into a wonder.
Prayer Points:
God is looking for wonderful children in our generation. If you have not given your life to Jesus, this is not a possibility for you. Please pray with me, “Dear Lord Jesus, restore me so I can be called a child of God. You made me in the beginning, now take me to that place of salvation. Save me from the penalty of my sins. Take me and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I will become a wonder in this generation.”
O gracious Father, in your mercy, evolve each one of us into a wonder. Keep us from being overwhelmed by our challenges; give us the grace to consider them necessary stepping stones for our evolution into children of wonders.
