“Why do all these bad things keep happening to me?” Maybe you’ve said those words, and with good reason. For this global pandemic hasn’t just made a lot of people sick. Government-ordered shutdowns have doomed many small business, throwing thousands of people out of work. Loneliness and depression are spreading faster than COVID, only getting worse during this Christmas season when we are unable to gather with family and friends.

Paul was no stranger to tough times. He had been warned by several prophets that if he returned to Jerusalem, he would be arrested (Acts 20:23; 21:4,10). And that’s exactly what happened, even all the charges against him were false, and even though he had done nothing worthy of imprisonment. But even though the Roman governors could find no reason for punishing him, they kept him confined for 2 years, just to make the Jewish religious leaders happy (Acts 24:27; 26:31-32).

No, none of these things make sense, when viewed from a purely human perspective. But think about how all these trials allowed Paul to fulfill God’s plans to spread the gospel. When the Roman soldiers first took him into custody, he got to give his testimony to a huge crowd in Jerusalem, telling how he saw the risen Christ (Acts 22:1-21). Then, he was able to have numerous conversations with the Roman governor Felix, urging him to repent and avoid God’s judgment (Acts 24:24-27). He then was allowed to speak to Porcius Festus, who had succeeded Felix, along with King Herod Agrippa II and Queen Berenice (Acts 26). Finally, because he had appealed his case to Caesar (Acts 25:11), he was able to take the gospel all the way to Rome itself, just as God had told him to do (Acts 23:11) – but at government expense, and protected by Roman soldiers along the way!

So, could it be that our current difficulties will bring us new opportunities for ministry as well? Maybe our newfound lack of social commitments will lead us to make a call or send a card to those who are most in need of encouragement. Maybe the money we won’t be able to spend on travel we can donate to those who are having a hard time making ends meet. Maybe losing one job will open up a new and even better opportunity somewhere else.

So just as Paul had to trust God all during those two years when he was in prison for no good reason, let’s trust God during our COVID confinement. For who knows what great things He can and will accomplish through us, even here and now?

Acts 24:24-27 (NASB)

24 But some days later, Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
25 And as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time, I will summon you.”
26 At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him.
27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.