by Kevin Tillman | May 21, 2026 | Bible Study, Blog, Thoughts
It’s 1446 BC. God gives instructions for the Israelites to place the blood of a lamb on the doorposts of their homes. That blood would be the sign for the angel to pass over that house and spare the firstborn. This was the final and most horrific of the plagues, and it was the event that finally set the Hebrews free from slavery in Egypt. That annual celebration would become known as Passover.
But, interestingly enough, another feast was also instituted that same year.
Leviticus 23:15–16
“You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord.”
This feast was to be celebrated fifty days later. Israel was instructed to count seven weeks, and because of that counting, the feast became known as Shavuot, meaning “Feast of Weeks.”
At first glance, Shavuot appears to simply be an agricultural feast … a celebration of harvest. Israel would bring the firstfruits of wheat before the Lord in gratitude for His provision. But like so many Old Testament feasts, it pointed beyond itself. This feast was prophetic.
Fifty days after the original Passover and the Exodus from Egypt, the nation of Israel found itself standing at the base of Mount Sinai. They had been delivered … but what now? On that mountain God revealed His Law to His people.
Passover was for their deliverance, but Shavuot was for their empowerment. Shavuot was God showing His people how to live in the freedom He had given them.
Every year afterward, the Feast of Weeks reminded Israel of God’s goodness in the giving of the Torah … His instruction, His Law. But like all the Feasts of the Lord, a deeper meaning was still coming.
Now it’s AD 33.
Passover and Shavuot had been celebrated annually for nearly fifteen centuries. Every year reminded Israel of God’s deliverance from Egypt and His gift of the Law. But in AD 33, everything changed.
Jesus died on the cross during Passover. The blood that had once been placed on doorposts was now flowing from the cross as the spotless Lamb of God gave His life for the sins of the world.
Then came two more feasts. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a week-long reminder that Israel had left Egypt behind completely. There was no returning to bondage. During that feast in AD 33, Jesus’ sinless body lay in the tomb. Then came the Feast of Firstfruits, when the first portion of the harvest was presented to God in anticipation of everything still to come. On that very feast day, Jesus rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever.
Think about that.
For centuries these feasts had been celebrated year after year as reminders of God’s faithfulness. Then in AD 33, Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits took on deeper meaning through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Each event happened precisely on the feast day itself. Some may call that coincidence … but that sure is a lot of coincidence.
While many Bible students recognize the connection between those feasts and the cross and resurrection, the next feast often becomes the forgotten feast.
Fifty days after Passover in 1446 BC, God gave His Law to a newly delivered people. It was empowerment after deliverance. That was Shavuot.
Now fast forward again to AD 33. Jesus tells His disciples to wait in an upper room.
What were they doing while they waited? I can’t prove this, but part of me wonders if there was anticipation in that room. Jesus had died on Passover. He had been buried during Unleavened Bread. He had risen on Firstfruits. Could it be they wondered if God was about to do something again on Shavuot?
I think it’s possible. And oh, did something happen.
The Greek translation of Shavuot is Pentecost, a word meaning “fiftieth.” Pentecost was not a new Christian invention. Shavuot is Pentecost. Pentecost is Shavuot. It is simply the Greek translation of the Hebrew feast. That means that by AD 33, Pentecost had already been celebrated for fifteen hundred years, just like Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits.
This was not a new day. It was a feast day. This was not a Christian creation, this was an annual reminder.
Could it be that while sitting in that upper room they wondered, “What is God going to do on Pentecost?” Deliverance had already come through the cross and resurrection, but now it was time for empowerment.
On Pentecost in 1446 BC, God gave the Law. On Pentecost in AD 33, God gave the Holy Spirit.
At Sinai, God formed a people. In the upper room, God filled a people. At Sinai, the Law came down. In the upper room, the Spirit came in.
Why is this feast so often forgotten? It’s hard to say. It aligns perfectly with the others chronologically and theologically. Maybe it’s time we remember it again.
Passover and the cross brought deliverance.
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit brought and still brings empowerment.
It all fits together with exact precision. Why are we surprised? Some may call it coincidence … but once again, that sure is a lot of coincidence.
Happy Pentecost. Let’s remember that God didn’t just send Jesus to set us free, He also sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of us, to guide us, and yes, to empower us. The same Spirit that filled that upper room in AD 33 is still filling believers today.
by Shannon Tillman | May 14, 2026 | Bible Study, Blog, Thoughts
We live in a world of comparison. Who is prettier? Smarter? Richer? Funnier? Nicer? Anything can be compared. We size up people and put them in a category of either “above” or “below” us in whatever classification we choose. Spirituality, or lack thereof, can also be compared. Often, we judge others harsher than ourselves. Their wrongdoing is somehow worse than our sin. Such is the case of Jehu, a military commander, who became king in a day.
2 Kings 9:1-3
The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of olive oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead. When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run; don’t delay!”
The prophet did as Elisha had commanded. Jehu told his men the message and they hailed him as king. The soldiers followed Jehu to defeat the king in power, an evil man named Joram, who had a wicked mother named Jezebel. Jehu approached the palace with his men.
2 Kings 9:22-24
When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?” Joram turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!” Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart and he slumped down in his chariot.
Jehu confronted Joram on the idolatry and witchcraft in the kingdom. Jezebel was the chief orchestrator and financer of these atrocities. Jehu, after killing Joram, went to deal with Jezebel.
2 Kings 9:30-33
Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window. As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?” He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. “Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
Jezebel was also killed due to her wicked ways. But Jehu did not stop there. He realized he must cleanse Israel of the worship of the false god, Baal. He orchestrated a plan to kill all of the Baal worshippers.
2 Kings 10:25-28
As soon as Jehu had finished making the burnt offering, he ordered the guards and officers: “Go in and kill them; let no one escape.” So they cut them down with the sword. The guards and officers threw the bodies out and then entered the inner shrine of the temple of Baal. They brought the sacred stone out of the temple of Baal and burned it. They demolished the sacred stone of Baal and tore down the temple of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine to this day.So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel.
Jehu responded to the Lord’s call and wiped-out Baal worship. He was on mission to purge Israel of this sin. This should have been a time of national revival in the worship of the true God. However, there was a problem.
2 Kings 10:29
However, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
What? Jehu destroyed Baal worship, took down hundreds of pagans in the name of the Lord, inflicted justice on the royal family in the zeal of the Lord, yet still decided to keep a personal set of idols. Somehow, he thought his idols were not as bad as their idols. He believed they should be killed for their false beliefs while he could live in his compromise.
How often do we judge the sins of others while holding tightly onto our own? We think what they do is wrong, while excusing our own actions with “it is not so bad.” We compare out with “well, at least I am not doing that”. As if what we are doing wrong did not still need the blood shed on the cross to forgive us. Our excuses for our own sins only delay repentance and could even lead others into sin.
2 Kings 10:31
Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.
Not only did one man’s sin encourage others to sin, it also caused a nation to experience war.
2 Kings 10:32
In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael overpowered the Israelites throughout their territory…
When we do not repent from sin, we will experience much-deserved discipline. The consequences were not for Jehu alone but for Israel as well since many worshipped the golden calves. However, all of this could have been avoided if Jehu had been as zealous to remove his idols as much as the idols of others. We need to approach our sin with the same opinion as we do others, and to cut it out quickly. It is not to be compared but to be conquered.
by Kevin Tillman | May 7, 2026 | Bible Study, Blog, Thoughts
Over the last few weeks, as we’ve gone through our latest sermon series, I’ve thought a lot about how good people have become at hiding. Good people .. the type that have been in church a long time. They aren’t necessarily hiding from God, but from each other. Most people, especially seasoned church-goers know how to function while carrying a lot internally. We go to work, we answer texts, we show up at church every week, and we even laugh at the right moments, we just keep moving through life… all while something underneath is unsettled.
This latest series felt important to me not because these struggles are rare, but because they’re common. Almost painfully common. We all have stuff we are dealing with, and we’ve become too accustomed to hiding it.
Anxiety has become so normal that many people don’t even recognize how weighed down they are. Their mind is constantly running. There’s always something sitting in the background. That pressure that doesn’t go away. Even during moments that are supposed to feel restful, their thoughts keep moving. It’s the proverbial hamster wheel analogy.
Then there are the things people carry from years ago that somehow still feel like they are happening today. That shame and regret that just keeps lingering. Time passes, but certain moments still feel emotionally present. A person can know God forgives them and still quietly live as if they owe something for who they used to be. Shame has a way of handcuffing us from living in the present. It’s hard to live in joy while burdened by past failures.
And disappointment… honestly, that one probably sits deeper than most people care to admit. Especially when faith is involved. It’s one thing to be disappointed in life. It’s another thing to feel confused about what God allowed. Most believers eventually go through a season where reality doesn’t line up with what they were hoping and praying for. Those moments can either deepen our faith or slowly erode it depending on how we walk through them. A lot of people become guarded after enough disappointment. They’re not rebellious. They just stop expecting much because disappointment feels exhausting after a while. Past disappointments keep us from hope.
And somewhere underneath all of that is this other question many people wrestle with quietly: “What am I even supposed to be doing with my life?” It’s not some oscar-worthy moment where we break down in tears. Usually it’s just a quiet tension underneath. We feel that we just haven’t lived up to our potential. We start asking ourselves questions: Am I moving in the right direction? Am I wasting time? Am I missing something God wants for me?
The older I get, the more I realize most people are not looking for a perfectly mapped-out future nearly as much as they’re looking for reassurance that their life matters and that God has not forgotten them. We all need to remember that God is not absent in the middle of human struggle. He’s not distant. He’s present right in the middle of the chaos. He’s present in the middle of your confusion. He’s present while you are still trying to figure things out. He’s present while the prayers are still unanswered. He’s still present even while you are trying to recover emotionally from something you never expected to carry this long.
I think sometimes we imagine spiritual growth as becoming emotionally untouchable. Like maturity means you never wrestle, never question or feel overwhelmed again. Like we somehow put on the “SC” Super Christian cape and outfit. But Scripture doesn’t really teach that. Some of the people God used for the biggest assignments still walked through fear, uncertainty, grief, frustration, and even exhaustion.
What changed them was not pretending those things didn’t exist. It was continuing to bring those things to God instead of running from Him. It’s so important to be reminded of this. A lot of people are tired. I hear it all the time. They aren’t just tired physically. It’s a deep down tired. It’s an emotional level tired that lingers, and tired people often start believing things that aren’t true. They start believing they’re stuck, or even worse disqualified from being used by God.
But God is still working, and growth rarely feels dramatic while it’s happening. I truly believe God’s best work happens gradually. It’s a quiet growth that you don’t even recognize until much later in life.
Whatever you may be struggling with today… God is with you. Not that polished version of you, but the real version of you that is a work in progress. After all, that’s what we all are… a work in progress.
by Shannon Tillman | Apr 30, 2026 | Bible Study, Blog, Thoughts
When my friend texted asking for prayer, I knew before she even told me what was going on that her one relative was back in town. This family member has been creating painful, wicked, and divisive drama for years. My friend was desperate and asking for prayer AGAIN. We have prayed and prayed and nothing has happened for so long. I could hear her discouragement. I could hear the anxiety of what this person would do this time around. I could hear the questions of “God, will You finally intervene?”
That same morning, I had read this passage, which I sent to her. It was not the normal “Hang in there” message, or a cliché “God will work it out”. Instead, it was a passage of violence.
Isaiah 63:1-6
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.” Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. It was for me the day of vengeance; the year for me to redeem had come. I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm achieved salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground.”
These verses depict a gory scene of destruction. The Messiah, the One who is mighty to save, caused the havoc. He trampled the nations who came against Israel. He waged the war alone for none could help. His clothes were stained with the blood of the enemy. When I read this passage of war, I felt the Lord say, “Deliverance is messy.”
We are in a war. Peel back behind what is seen on this earth and the reality of a terrible spiritual war becomes painfully evident. Demons are raging against people; wanting to steal, kill, and destroy. They do not want to lose their territory in our lives. The battle is vicious. There are times that the deliverance from evil is a huge mess. Yet, the mess is not ours to fix. Jesus fights for us. Jesus fights for you. The fight takes time. He trampled the enemy but it was not in just a moment. Over time, He waged war until victory was complete.
Jesus is our warrior. Whatever is coming against you, know that He will win the fight. It is not in our time, or in the way we expect, but He will be victorious. It may be messy along the way, but victory will come. And when it does, we will praise His name:
Isaiah 63:7
I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
Jesus, our warrior, the Messy Deliverer, is worthy of praise because He truly has done many good things for us. He has rescued us and will deliver us. Soon, we will see His complete victory in our lives.
by Shannon Tillman | Apr 23, 2026 | Bible Study, Theology, Thoughts
The moment probably replayed in his head. The segment in time had been divinely orchestrated to cut to the core of his soul. If it had been merely an acquaintance, the meeting would have been embarrassing, even painful. But this was his best friend. The agony of the encounter would never be forgotten. The event began in a moment of fear and confusion which led to hasty words.
Luke 22:54-57
Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
Jesus had been arrested only a few hours earlier. Frightened, the disciples had all abandoned Him in the garden. Peter picked up small pieces of courage and decided to follow at a distance. This could be costly. As a follower of Jesus, he could be arrested and suffer the same fate. Peter took the risk and entered the courtyard of the high priest. He hoped to just mingle by the fire, not taking the risk of conversation. The servant girl’s accusation startled him. Peter answered with a denial of knowing Jesus. His heart surely pounded while the words tumbled out with fear. He thought the discussion would end there, but more followed.
Luke 22:58
A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
Imagine being pointed out again in a crowd that could easily turn hostile. He was in the courtyard of the high priest, the main orchestrator of the events leading to the arrest of Jesus. Peter was seated amongst temple workers who would willingly turn him in. Once again, Peter denied knowing Jesus. Peter, the one devoted to Jesus so much that he risked his life to be in the courtyard, proceeded to tell the people that he was not one of the followers of Jesus.
Peter’s denial took place outside in the courtyard. Inside the house, the terrible mistreatment of Jesus was underway.
Matthew 26:67-68
Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
The angry religious leaders beat Jesus. Blood flowed from the cuts and bruises on His body, on His face. His clothes were stained with blood. There were many men in the room; they all seemed to want an opportunity to spit and hit Jesus. Their mocking words matched their abusive behavior. After brutalizing Jesus, He was tied up and led away to face another fake trial. The guards brought Him outside, where Peter was still waiting, where Peter faced another conversation.
Luke 22:59-61b
About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.
The bloody, bruised face of Jesus looked at Peter. Jesus supernaturally knew that Peter was in the courtyard, for Peter had come after Jesus had been brought to trial. But Jesus knew where Peter was and what he had been doing, what he had been saying. In fact, Jesus had already told Peter what would happen hours earlier.
Luke 22:31-34
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Jesus knew before the denial happened and Jesus knew when the denial happened. God, in His sovereignty, allowed Jesus to walk by Peter at the exact moment of the third denial. Jesus did not say a word to the disciple, only looked at him. The face Peter had seen only hours earlier now had been marred by the brutal beating given by the religious leaders. The blood, the bruises, however, did not hide the eyes that looked straight at Peter.
Luke 22:61b-62
Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Jesus looked at Peter; Peter’s eyes filled with tears. Jesus left for the next trial; Peter left for a solitary place to weep. Imagine the thoughts that raced through Peter’s head. He remembered the prophesy from Jesus earlier in the night, warning about the denials to come. Peter had foolishly responded that he would never deny Jesus, would even die for Jesus. Peter replayed the conversations from around the fire, the words of denial spoken aloud. Then, Peter, pictured again the beaten face of Jesus looking beyond the crowd, just to him. The pain, the shame overwhelmed Peter. His words felt like the end and he would have to live with the regret the rest of his life.
Three days later, another word was spoken to a group of women who came to the tomb of Jesus. The word was given to an angel who had a specific message for Peter.
Mark 16:6-7
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Notice the words: “and Peter”.
Peter may have denied Jesus, but Jesus did not deny Peter. No matter what Peter had done, he was still included in what Jesus had already planned to do. Peter saw the bruised face of Jesus, but then he heard the message of Jesus that he would see Him again. Jesus will not look as He did, for now He would be in His resurrected body. Peter will not speak like he did, for now he would encounter the resurrected Christ. Everything had changed.
Our past does not stop the Lord’s plan in and through us. Before we sin, God already knew what we would do. The calling on our lives remain the same. For another prophecy, besides the one about his denial, had been given to Peter. As Peter acknowledged Jesus as Messiah, Jesus acknowledged Peter as a future leader of the church.
Matthew 16:16-18
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
This prophecy began to be fulfilled on the day of Pentecost; following the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus to heaven. The one who denied Jesus in a small group, boldly preached to a large crowd.
Acts 2:14, 36, 41
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say… “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Peter, the one who denied Jesus, became the bold proclaimer of Jesus, just as Jesus had prophesied. Jesus saw Peter in his failure, but He also saw Peter’s future success in serving God’s kingdom. Your past, whatever that piece of your life that you are so ashamed of, does not define your future ministry. The Lord saw your failure, the same failure He went to the cross for to provide forgiveness. Now, the resurrected Jesus reminds us of our call just as He reminded Peter of his call which remained intact even after the darkest moment of his life. Just like Jesus said, “…and Peter”, He also says our names, too. Everything has changed.
by Shannon Tillman | Apr 9, 2026 | Bible Study, Blog, Thoughts
I remember the teacher handed me back my high school science report. My grade was low. I saw that he wrote something on the top page about “referencing a project that I did not have.” I was thoroughly confused. My project had been turned in as well. I approached my teacher after class. I took him to my project that was placed under the table with some of the other students’ experiments. He apologized; he had completely missed it. The next day I received a corrected paper with my grade, the highest of all the students. That meant I could go to the county science fair (which seemed thrilling at the time). But my hopes were dashed because the teacher said, “I know the highest grade goes. However, Jana had the highest grade before I realized that I had missed your project under the table. She is so excited. I don’t want to take that from her. I’m sorry.” Sorry? What about me? I worked hard and now I cannot advance to the next level of science because the teacher was more sensitive to Jana’s feelings than mine?
I was devastated. However, I never told anyone in order to protect Jana and her journey. I remember I prayed and I felt that God let me know that Jana needed this and I did not. It was something for her. Maybe she ended up pursuing a science degree. I do not know; all I know is that something that was bad for me was good for her. God alone knows the reason why.
The same concept is true in a story about a captured slave girl who ministered out of her difficult situation to the very man who enslaved her.
2 Kings 5:1
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
Aram was an enemy nation of Israel. Naaman was the commander of this nation. His military success against Israel led to not only some people being killed but others being forced into slavery, never seeing their homeland again. One of these captured slaves was a young girl.
2 Kings 5:2
Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.
This girl could have chosen to resent her new masters. She could have mocked Naaman’s disease and thought it was a sign of judgment from God. She could have kept silent and not shared what she knew would help him. Instead, she chose to be kind, even to her enemy, and shared a source of healing for him.
2 Kings 5:3
She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
This young girl had faith. She believed for a healing of leprosy! She wanted her enemy to be delivered from his suffering. This girl would not have known about Naaman’s leprosy except for the fact that she had been taken captive and brought to serve his wife in their home. Her bad situation was setting up for his good. Upon hearing the news of a potential healing, Naaman chose to go see the prophet, Elisha. Naaman eventually obeyed the command of Elisha to dip in the Jordan river.
2 Kings 5:14
So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
Naaman was healed, his skin fully restored. More importantly, his physical healing led to a greater spiritually awakening.
2 Kings 5:15a, 17b
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. ..please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord.
Naaman, a pagan worshipper, became a follower of the one true God. The misfortune, the pain of a young servant girl was being orchestrated into a story to bring an Aram commander to salvation. Her bad situation would lead to Naaman’s good.
Sometimes, the difficulties we face are what brings others to the Lord. I used a silly example about the science project, but there have been other more painful circumstances that have been used for the transformation of others. Often in teaching, I give first hand accounts of difficulties I experienced in order to encourage others in their journey. That is working our pain for the good of others. The young girl’s temporary bondage led to Naaman’s eternal deliverance. Whatever hardship we are in, God will take it and bring eternal good out of it. We can trust Him even when it does not make sense. Sometimes we may not know the outcome, but we can trust that God will work it for good.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Only God knows how many people’s lives have been touched by Naaman’s story over the past 3000 years. His story only became eternal when one young girl’s misery became a ministry, even to her enemies. Our bad will be turned to good and the lives of others will be changed.
