I want to share this story with you because there are one or two very important lessons you can learn from it—lessons that may save you unnecessary trouble and help you grow in wisdom.
When it comes to your intimate dealings with God, you must exercise caution. Not everyone is meant to hear about what God is doing in your life. Sharing too freely or with the wrong person can unintentionally create enemies, invite jealousy, or even lead to temptation. This is why understanding kingdom principles for effective ministry is so important: it teaches discernment, wisdom, and the proper handling of spiritual matters so that God’s work in your life remains protected and fruitful.
Let me take you back to my secondary school days. At that time, I had a growing, vibrant relationship with God. I was excited about what He was doing in my life and felt free to share my experiences with others. One particular thing God had done was very specific, and I was thrilled about it.
I had been praying and asking God to help me overcome the urge to fight back whenever someone provoked me. At that stage of life, avoiding fights could save one from trouble, expulsion, or unnecessary conflict. I had been earnestly seeking God’s help to respond with wisdom rather than aggression.
One day, God answered my prayer in a very clear and tangible way. I experienced a level of self-control I had never had before, and I was excited. I wanted to share my testimony with someone I considered a “Christian” friend in the same class. At that moment, my excitement overpowered caution.
I told him about what God had done in my life, explaining that I could now face provocation without responding with violence. What I didn’t know was what was in his heart at that time.
One of the ways God speaks to us is through dreams. You can learn more about this in the post “Dreams: One Way God Communicates.”
Do you remember Joseph in the Bible? God gave Joseph dreams, and he excitedly shared them with his brothers. Not everyone is ready to hear God’s private dealings, and in Joseph’s case, it nearly cost him his life. Similarly, sharing God’s work in your life without discernment can invite unnecessary trouble.
Immediately after I finished telling my friend, he asked me a question:
“Are you saying that if I slap you now, you won’t fight back?”
Because I trusted him and considered him a brother in Christ, I thought it was a sincere question. Foolishly, I answered, “I won’t fight back.”
What happened next shocked me.
He slapped me so hard that the mark of his five fingers was clearly imprinted on my face. Up until that day, no one had ever struck me like that. But I did nothing—I truly could not fight back, because God had answered my prayer.
We remained in class, waiting for the teachers to come in. My friends, who knew I was not a troublemaker, saw the marks and immediately asked, “Who did this to you?” They were ready to retaliate.
This story taught me several important lessons about discretion, faith, and wisdom:
In conclusion, this story is a powerful reminder: Be careful who you share God’s private dealings with. Not everyone is ready to hear, and sharing too freely can bring unnecessary trials. Let your experiences with God strengthen you, teach you, and encourage others—but do so wisely, patiently, and with discernment.
By applying these lessons, you can protect your testimony, maintain peace, and grow in spiritual maturity. Remember, discretion and wisdom are as important as faith when it comes to handling what God has done in your life. This is because God speaks to His children through their recreated spirit, guiding them inwardly with understanding, prompting, and discernment so they can respond rightly in every situation.
If this message has spoken to you, here are some related teachings that will help you understand A Lesson from Experience more deeply:
No comments:
Post a Comment