use it all

Sometimes in life, things happen that do not seem fair.  Maybe it’s a diagnosis, a divorce, years of infertility, loss of a job, death, or just a prolonged season of hardship where you feel like you can’t catch a break.  Whatever it is, sometimes it may seem like life is dealing you a bad hand.  But what if this awful situation, hardship, or circumstance could be viewed in a different light?  What if this time was going to bring opportunities that you would not have been afforded had you not experienced it?  What if it’s more about our perspective during the time?

In the book of Acts, we see Paul facing many hardships.  He faced persecution, beatings, shipwrecks, arrest, imprisonment, and more.  He was nearly beaten to death on multiple occasions, but the amazing thing we see is how Paul looks at these things from a kingdom perspective.

In Acts 21 Paul is arrested after some Jewish leaders formed a mob against him.  Paul narrowly escapes death, but uses every opportunity to speak about his testimony.  He is moved from city to city and leader to leader to decide his fate.  He is finally placed before Governor Felix.  Paul gave his testimony and talked about Christ again.  Felix would call for Paul to come to him from prison quite often to talk about his faith.  One time after Paul shared, Felix became frightened.     

“‘Go away for now,’ he replied.  ‘When it is more convenient, I’ll call you again.’  He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.  After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus.  And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.”  Acts 24:25b-27

Paul was basically arrested without cause and he dealt with prison for over two years.  Two whole years!  And then Felix just left him in prison for the next rulers to have to decide on his fate.  We see in the next few chapters that Paul pleads his case again to the new rulers.  As Paul is appealing to King Agrippa he makes this statement:

“Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me.  But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest.”  Acts 26:22

Paul was willing to have the mindset and perspective that God had spared his life and because of that he had been given many opportunities to testify to others, from the least to the greatest.  Paul knows that he probably would not have had an opportunity to share the gospel with these major leaders without his imprisonment.  His two years in prison had given him multiple opportunities to share about Christ with a variety of leaders.  He knew that this prolonged hardship had provided him access he never would have had otherwise.

This devotional was written by Amy Carrico of Making the Moments Matter. Click HERE to follow her on Facebook!

Last Updated on June 23, 2025