April 16 2026

Thursday April 16

God Prepares Us in the Tough Times

Philippians 1:12

“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.”

Today we are continuing to look at Philippians 1:12–18. Paul is talking about his circumstances here. Paul had other plans, no doubt, for what he thought God wanted him to do. Yet the Holy Spirit of God had other plans for him. God has him in prison for a purpose. We are talking about what happens when life does not go as we planned it.

Yesterday we began telling the story about Joseph. Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers. Then he went to Potiphar’s house in Egypt as a slave. Then he ended up in a prison in Egypt. But the next thing you know, God reveals and unveils the vision that Joseph had for himself. He becomes next to Pharaoh, ruler over all of Egypt, and saves not only the land of Egypt from a great famine but also his family.

We did not read this verse yesterday, but in Genesis 50:19–20, after his brothers came asking for forgiveness again after their father Jacob died, Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

Now we are looking at Philippians 1:12, where Paul says, “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.” Paul is in prison. He is in chains. He is chained between guards, but there he has the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ. So even in our setbacks, even in our disappointments, even in situations we never would choose, God is working. God can use it all for His glory to bring about the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Another great story after the book of Genesis is in Exodus—the story of Moses. Moses, when he is 40 years old and has been trained in all the arts and military ways of the Egyptians, thinks he is going to deliver the people of Israel. This happens some 400 years, after Joseph and Moses now is going to deliver them. He starts that process and kills an Egyptian. Then he ends up running for his life. For the next 40 years of his life he lives in a desert. He thought God was going to use him earlier. He had all the equipment. He had all the knowledge. He had all the background—everything. Yet God wanted to put him out there in a desert, watching smelly sheep. Moses would have never planned that. But God had a plan in preparing Moses to become the great leader of the nation of Israel, to bring them out of bondage, to be their deliverer, to take them to the promised land, and to lead them for the next 40 years through the wilderness.

Oh my friend, it is awesome how God works in our lives through the strangest situations and circumstances that we would never choose.

Then you think of David—little David, maybe 12 or 13 years old—out playing his harp on a hillside, praising God, worshiping, and getting to know Him. He is looking at creation, watching God’s sheep, and thinking, “Man, it is awesome taking care of these sheep.” He begins to dream about what God might want to use him for. He ends up being anointed king by Samuel when he was around 15 years old. He has no idea what that means, but wow, something good is happening. The next thing you know, he kills Goliath, and everybody is excited about David. But then Saul gets jealous. For the next 12 to 15 years, David is fleeing for his life—something he would never choose. But he gathers a band of men to follow him. He begins to learn how to trust God as his life is at risk every day. God is preparing him to be the great King David of Israel for the next 40 years after he becomes king at 30 years of age.

Sometimes things happen that we think are bad, but God is preparing us. God is working in our lives. So do not throw in the towel. Do not quit. Keep on keeping on. God will continue to do something that will amaze you. Paul says, “Here I am in prison, but it has turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.” We will talk more about that in the next few days.

Today, think about what God might be doing in your life today, despite your circumstances.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!