I know that one of the most impactful ways that we as believers can be a light is by how we act when we are in a bad/difficult situation. We have the ability to be a light no matter what we face and it's often one of our best ways to show Christ's love to unbelievers.
"...in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger..." (2 Corinthians 6:5)
Being put in jail would cause many people to become bitter or to give up, but Paul saw jail time as one more opportunity to spread the gospel of Christ. Paul recognized that his current circumstances weren't as important as what he did with them.
What if we saw every bad situation as another possible opportunity?
He turned a bad situation into a good one.
We may not be in prison, but we have plenty of opportunities to be discouraged - times of indecision, financial burdens, family conflict, political unrest, or even the loss of our jobs.
How we act in such situations will reflect what we believe in.
Recently, I have had some difficult passing some pretty difficult exams, and it's been so easy to get down on myself and be negative. But I have had to learn that won't get me anywhere. If I get down on myself, pout, and am super negative, how will that come across to others? I know that won't represent Christ very well.
I've had to take some time to myself, but most importantly get back to it. I have had to trust God's plan for me and trust that I am learning something through this exam taking journey that he has taken me on.
I am choosing to react to this in a way where I won't give up. Paul never gave up when he was in prison, hungry, sleepless, and beaten. Why should I? Why should you?
My encouragement for you, like Paul, is to look for ways to demonstrate your faith even in bad situations. Whether or not the situation improves, your faith will grow stronger.
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