By Lisa Wilmore
Blessings to you, my friends!
God has granted us another day, and it is a blessing to bask in His peace, joy, and happiness. Let us thank Him for our blessed, everlasting, eternal, and endless Savior—Jesus Christ!
When effective ministries are going forth and lives are being changed, someone will always stir up trouble. It does not matter how many times you leave a place or certain ministries, when God is truly at work, people will still cause chaos and confusion. But we must never give up on God’s mission to save the lost and bring hope to the weary.
In Acts chapter 13 and 14, Paul recorded the trouble he and Barnabas faced as they traveled from city to city preaching about our risen Savior, Jesus. In Antioch, the Jews rejected the message, and Paul and Barnabas turned to preach to the Gentiles, just as the Lord commanded: “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, so that all the world may be saved” (Acts 13:47 GNT). They spread the Word of God faithfully, but again, the Jews stirred up trouble.
As a result, Paul and Barnabas “shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium” (Acts 13:51 GNT). Yet even in Iconium, after some time, opposition arose once more. The Jews and some Gentiles plotted to mistreat and stone them (Acts 14). Truly, “everywhere you go there is trouble.”
But that did not stop Paul and Barnabas. They fled to Lystra and continued preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ (Acts 14:6). Even there, adversaries from Antioch and Iconium followed them and stirred up more trouble. Paul was stoned and left for dead. However, God spared his life! He got up again and went on to Derbe (Acts 14:20), continuing to proclaim the message of salvation. Interestingly, everywhere they went preaching and teaching, they met opposition. Yet everywhere they went, God was also with them.
Therefore, if this is your story and it feels like “everywhere you go there is trouble”- take heart; you may be walking right in the center of God’s will. Understand that the enemy always fights the hardest where God is working the most. In fact, do not be discouraged. Like Paul, get back up, dust yourself off, and keep pressing forward. Trouble does not mean failure. Hence, it often means that you are advancing the Kingdom of God.
Remember the words of Jesus: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) So, keep shining your light, keep speaking truth, and keep doing good. Trouble may follow you, but so will grace, mercy, and victory; for God is with you everywhere you go.
