You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
— Genesis 50:20
It’s hard to forget the image of the 21 Coptic Christians who were martyred on a beach in Libya in early 2015 by Islamic State terrorists.
Bishop Demetrios, Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, wrote shortly after the event…
“These Coptic Christian hostages were executed for no other reason than their faith in Jesus Christ. As horrible as the episode was, it also offers inspiration and testimony to the power of faith. The 21 men executed that day were itinerant tradesmen working on a construction job. The executioners demanded that each hostage identify his religious allegiance. Given the opportunity to deny their faith, the Egyptians declared their faith in Jesus as their Lord. Steadfast in their belief, even in the face of evil, each one was beheaded.”
One man executed that day was not from Egypt, and wasn’t a Christian when the group was captured. But when he was challenged by the terrorists to declare his faith, he reportedly replied: “Their God is my God.”
In the face of unspeakable horror and certain death, the faith of these Egyptian Christians inspired an unbeliever to confess Christ. And he was even willing to die for his faith!
While the enemy would love nothing more than to turn good into evil, God turns evil into good. So whatever you’re going through today, remember that God has the power to use your faithfulness to work out even the worst situation for your good and His glory!
Prayer Challenge
Pray for the strength to remain faithful in your struggles, knowing God will use them for your good!
Questions for Thought
How have you seen God work out your hardships in the past for your good and His glory?
What hard times are you going through right now that God can transform to good?