God’s idea of deliverance may not look like yours …

God often does NOT deliver us “from,” but He does deliver us “through.”

God allowed Joseph to be thrown in a pit, then sold into slavery, and even to be unfairly imprisoned. He didn’t deliver him from those things, but He did deliver him through those things.

God allowed Daniel to be put into a pit of lions. He didn’t deliver him from that experience, but He did deliver him through it.

God allowed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be thrown into a fiery furnace. He didn’t deliver them from such a terrifying moment, but He did deliver them through it.

God allowed Stephen to be stoned to death. He didn’t deliver him from that horrifying assault, but He did deliver him through it.

God allowed the Apostle Paul to permanently suffer a “thorn in the flesh.” He didn’t deliver Paul from this persistent plaguing, but He did deliver him through it.

We see through the lens of scripture that God often does NOT deliver us from what may be terrible, terrifying, even tragic events, but He always delivers us through them. In other words, He may not deliver us from facing an experience, but He will deliver us through it, bringing the final result to be something that glorifies Him the most and ultimately is best for us. That is NOT to say that God doesn’t often deliver us from many bad experiences; whether He delivers us from or through, His ways are always perfect, resulting in glory for Him and the best outcome for us.

In spite of this, we see a great imbalance in today’s teaching of focusing almost entirely on calling on God to deliver us from, and a disappointment with Him if He doesn’t. Yet, God’s plan may be greater than our desire, as He may determine it is better for us, and more glorifying for Him, to deliver us through.

Trust God to do what is best for you by doing what brings Him the greatest glory.

Scotty