“When you are going through difficult, pressure-filled times and feel angry and tired and ready to give up, ask this question: Lord, what do You want to do in me? . . . If you haven’t discovered this already, you’ll find that virtually everyone who has a deep relationship with God has been through a lot of adversity. That’s when roots grow deep.”- Chip Ingram
“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”- Philippians 1:15-18 (ESV)
Chip Ingram concludes Chapter 3 of I Choose Joy with the apostle Paul’s third exhibit in support of his thesis statement.
Exhibit C: The believer grows deep. Finally, Chip underscores, God gets very personal to help us grow deeper roots in Him. Therefore, in this exhibit, Paul presents his case for how God furthers His purposes in our adversity. As a result, Paul demonstrates how he rooted himself in God’s calling for him. In addition, Paul rooted himself in his selfless desire to see the truth advance.
Above all, even though some people betrayed Paul or followed self-centered preachers, he stayed focused on his purpose. Hence, as long as Paul accomplished his mission wherever he found himself, he fulfilled his calling. No matter what others said about him. So, remembering his purpose kept him grounded. And took Paul deeper with God.
In conclusion, Chip observes:
“[Paul] could have felt as competitive and resentful as anyone — if he let himself. But he refused to play the part of the victim. He may have had to wrestle with the unfairness of his situation and the people surrounding him, but ultimately he wanted God to accomplish in him whatever He wanted to accomplish.”
Today’s question: Do you see adversity as a time when roots grow deep? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Deeper level of character, faith”