With Persecution Comes Growth

"As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word." - Acts 8:3-4 (NKJV)

There seems to be a troubling trend beginning in America. Persecution. It's important to remember how the New Testament church grew - through persecution. The same is true in one's personal relationship with God - it's the bad times that cause us to grow. Sometimes we recieve direction through persecution. Sometimes those who attack us are agents of the Lord, without knowing it. God uses them to get us where we need to be, then, like Joseph, we look back years later and say, "You meant it for evil but God meant it for good" (See Genesis 50:20). We cry because someone slammed a door in our face, but in retrospect we are able to say, "It was the best thing that could have happened to me."

If God is allowing you to experience persecution, it will ultimately be for His good, the good of others, or for your good. Your are the instrument through which He is going to bring it about. Understanding this is to gain a more mature perspective on life. Whether the battle is over your family, your finances, your health, your business, or your ministry, expect three things:

1. The closer you get to victory, the more intense the battle.
2. What matters is not your comfort, but what you're called to do.
3. Your victory has been ordained by God, so keep fighting!