The age old question of “Why suffering?” cannot be adequately answered for anyone facing pain. However, the Bible and the Christian faith are full of the testament that as believers we can do more than just get through suffering, we can actually exploit evil for our benefit. Romans 8:28 says that “We are MORE than conquerors through him who loved us.” This is not an exhaustive list, but below are five ways that you can exploit evil in your own life:
1. Use Difficulties to Increase your Dependency on God
Unfortunately when our lives are going smoothly, it’s easy to think we have things covered on our own. There is the old saying that you don’t know God is all you need until God is all you have. Exploit evil by leaning on Christ’s strength when you face difficulties. This may help you realize all the things you leaned on before didn’t matter in the first place. C.S Lewis in his book The Problem of Pain says, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Romans 5:3
2. Use Others’ Suffering to Increase your Mercy and Compassion
The pain and suffering of others can allow us to experience what it means to be the body of Christ. Heroes wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the need of sacrificial love. If you have ever been to a third world country or even an inner city project in the USA, you know that after seeing the suffering of another person, our heart is changed and we are able to see the world with a renewed perspective and a renewed drive to share with people the hope we have in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:7
3. Use your Trials to Point the Lost to Christ
Saved or unsaved, we can’t escape death, suffering, or pain in this fallen world. The lost need to see Christians suffer well. Everything in the world’s culture tells you that the accepted response to suffering is un-forgiveness, revenge, bitter resentment, self-pity or disillusionment. In Christ, we still experience pain but we have a resilience that they do not. As they see you walk through your trial, yet still full of peace and joy, they will be drawn to the hope you have. 1 Thessalonians 4:13
4. Use Pain to Produce Courage
Pain can give us clarity like nothing else. Why does the bible say we are blessed when we suffer or are persecuted? It is because of the Holy Spirit’s ability to exploit the evil, and use what was meant to destroy us as a tool to refine us. VOM founder Richard Wurmbrand, after spending fourteen years in a communist prison, wrote “…Persecution has always produced a better Christian—a witnessing Christian, a soul winning Christian. Persecution has backfired and produced serious dedicated Christians such as are rarely seen in free lands. These people cannot understand how anyone can be a Christian and not want to win every soul they meet.” (From Tortured for Christ) Mark 16:15
5. Use Adversity an Opportunity for God to do a Miracle
Allow adversity to produce in you a faith that believes God for the impossible. It’s difficult to pray a prayer full of faith when we see another ‘out’ that we can accomplish on our own. Exploit evil by believing for the healing, the salvation, the deliverance, knowing that the same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you. (Romans8:11) Place your trust in the goodness and love of God and watch what He does. Mark 5:34
YOUR TURN: What other ways would you suggest that a Christian exploit evil to bring about good? Share your ideas and thoughts in the comments to this post.
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