YOUR WORST CAN BECOME YOUR BEST!!

by Helen Jesze 1st May 2015

“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, and who are called according to His purpose”

Romans 8, 28 (KJB)

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” – is the first line of Charles Dickens’ gripping novel ​“A Tale of Two Cities”, set in the period before and during the French Revolution.

But hundreds of years before that, to the little band of disciples, running down back alleys in Jerusalem, hiding behind locked doors, dreading the tramp of soldiers’ feet and the harsh barking of Roman commands – it was definitely ‘the ​worst of times’. They had seen their Master crucified. Their minds were clouded by doubt and pain. Every dream was shattered and their plans to rule with Jesus in his new kingdom had come to nothing. Three years they had followed him, watched him do miracles, heal the sick, walk on water, feed the multitudes – now he was dead.

Those who had been in Jerusalem for the Passover, were now going home. Two on their way to Emmaus talked so earnestly they did not notice the man who came alongside. “Why are you sad?” he asked. “Are you a stranger? Don’t you know what has happened in Jerusalem?!” they asked. The Stranger began to talk in a way they had never heard before, pulling truths out of the Scriptures that the Messiah must suffer, but would be glorified. At supper the man broke and blessed the bread; suddenly they realised it was JESUS! They ran back to Jerusalem with burning hearts, to tell the fantastic news that ​he had risen from the dead!

Their worst had become their best! Many people have known this. The mother of Augustine prayed much for her son when he was young, begging God to stop him going to Rome, because it was such a wicked city. God did not answer her prayer, for Augustine ​did ​go to Rome, but there he was confronted with the truth that he needed a Saviour, and his sinful life was ​completely changed! Later, he became one of the Early Church Fathers!

A young woman living in a village in China, became a Christian. Soon after, she contracted smallpox and was left with a badly scarred face. She was very sad and bitter about this, thinking that she could never marry or live a happy life. One day, bandits overran her village, raping the women before killing them, and killing the men, but they did not touch her, for they said: “She is too ugly!” ​Her worst became her best, ​for God spared her life, and this brought her to the realisation that God had turned around the curse that Life had brought to her, and turned it into good. He still had a purpose for her life ­­ she was precious to Him!

I don’t know where you might be today in your life. Are you struggling with something which seems the worst scenario? Full of doubts and fears? Let the risen Christ change your ‘worst’ experience into ‘the best’ today!

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, touch every one of my readers today with your hand of love and Holy Spirit. Turn around situations in their lives which seem impossible to them, and show your greatness and glory to them in the coming days! Thankyou, Father!
Amen