April 27 I Saturday

1 Kings 1-2

Luke 19:28-48

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”   —2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Peter was not physically hurting or disabled that we know of, but he certainly suffered his share of grief. Having failed Jesus on several occasions, he knew all too well what it felt like to be spiritually crippled. But after Pentecost, he was restored and empowered, made wiser and stronger because of his griefs.

Most of the leading characters in the Bible suffered brokenness, and it proved to be the cutting edge in their ministry. When healing the man at the temple gate, Peter drew upon his godliness, his giftedness and thirdly, his griefs. Peter had experienced such bankruptcy of spirit that he was brought to his knees, but on the Day of Pentecost, he was the leading spokesperson, declaring the word of God with authority and conviction. His griefs were still fresh, still very poignant, and he took compassion on the man at the gate. Because
Jesus had restored Peter, Peter could now speak with confidence, knowing Jesus would also bring this lame man to his feet.

Saul of Tarsus, committed to annihilating the Christian movement, encountered Christ on the Damascus road and made a complete turnabout. Once the church’s biggest persecutor, Saul became the Apostle Paul, God’s chosen man to bring the Gospel into pagan and often hostile territories and who established many of the first Christian churches throughout the Mediterranean world. Moses, wanting to free his people, killed an Egyptian slave master, and failed miserably in freeing anyone. He was forced to flee Egypt, but 40 years later, God used him to lead in excess of two million people into freedom.

It is often our darkest, most trying times that give God access into our lives. That is why we should never be afraid of failure. Like Peter, Paul, Moses and many others, God is building and molding us through our brokenness and will use it as the catalyst that generates a profound desire in us to help others.

In a book entitled They Found the Secret, by Raymond Edmond, he writes about 20 men and women who were tempted to give it all up but then found the Spirit of God to be their strength, their guide, their confidence and companion; in a word, their life. It is the crisis of the deeper life that unlocks the key to their transformation. God’s business is redemption, and He will use our
griefs and brokenness to turn weakness into strength and tears into triumph, so that we may become a blessing to others.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for having been such a comfort to me in my times of need. I pray You will use me to help others in the same way.