An Unkillable Hope

We often think of our tribulations as punishment. When we are in an undesirable situation, we might think we are being punished for our wrongdoings, or we might even blame it on bad luck. But the truth is, these situations are when we see the hand of God the most.

When the Lord revealed His revelation, He needed a messenger to record it. The one He chose for this task was John—the youngest of Jesus’ disciples.

He was the last one. All the other disciples had died a martyr’s death, and only John remained, being despised and hated by Domitian, the Roman emperor at the time. Domitian tried to boil John in a vat of burning oil, but he wouldn’t die. Domitian tried a second time to kill him by poisoning him, but John lived. So, in an attempt to prolong John’s suffering, Domitian alienated John on the island of Patmos alone.

Surly Domitian must have thought himself to be very clever, leaving John to die a lonely death, but God had his servant right where He wanted him. On this estranged island of Patmos, God would reveal the greatest secrets of heaven and earth to the last living disciple of Jesus Christ.

God allowed John to go through tribulations—let him endure hatred and all kinds of pain because there was something greater coming. When death came for John, Life stood in the way and said, “Not yet. I’m not finished.” When our enemies think they are clever, when they think they have outsmarted us and our beliefs, the Lord puts their pride to shame.

When you feel that you’ve been left for dead, and you’re standing alone with nothing and no one, remember that the Lord works miracles out of mayhem. Don’t be discouraged. When you face your greatest adversity, you’re in the perfect position for victory.

You’ll see the hand of God in ways you never would have had you never known hardship. Had you never been alone, you never would have known joy like that of His presence. You’d never have known the extent of His goodness had you never witnessed the betrayal of the world. You’d never have realized how great His love is had you never seen the ugliness of your sin and been hated as He was hated.

There’s a Mexican proverb that says, “When your enemy thought they buried you, they didn’t take into consideration that you were a seed and about to harvest something that was beautiful.” God allowed John to be alienated because the revelation He would reveal to him was not just for John. Your trial and your victory are never just about you. They are for those who come after you, who need to hear a story of hope, and who will find strength in their own adversity because of God’s faithfulness in your life.