Worth It

Here in Peru, the coronavirus has been a trying time for everyone. It has affected every part of life, from work and school to birthday parties and reunions. The whole country was quarantined for eight months. My mom and sisters and I didn't leave the house, and my dad only did to get groceries. It was long and hard for us all, but we tried not to concentrate on ourselves, instead praying for other people. Many people survive only on what they make on a day-to-day basis, and, at the time, no one was allowed to go to work. We prayed to God, thanking Him that our family had enough and asking for His provision for people who were struggling.

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The Old Testament tells the story of a woman who went through an even longer and harder quarantine. Esther was chosen to marry the king of the land, and that meant that she would live the rest of her days in his palace. She would not be allowed to leave, and she would only be able to see her husband when he wished it. Pretty hard, right? But it was even worse because of Esther's secret. She was a member of a group of people that the king's chief adviser was currently trying to wipe out! She could very well have concentrated on her situation, the danger she was in, her fear and worry – and I don't think anyone would have been able to judge her if she had. But instead she used her position to convince the king to protect her people. She still had to live out her life stuck in the palace, but she did so knowing that her situation was worth it because she had saved her nation.

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A prison in ancient Egypt was once occupied by a man named Joseph. He was not a criminal; on the contrary, he was in jail because he had done the right thing. Even in prison, he did not stop obeying God. One of his good deeds gave him an opportunity to get out – but it still took two years for that to happen. However, when he was finally released, he was put in charge of all Egypt. He saw the land through a famine, saving the Egyptians and the many peoples who came to him for food from starvation. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph says that, in all the bad things that happened to him, God was working to put Joseph in a place from which he would be able to, in essence, save the world.

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Everyone in the U.S. knows about the Civil War. It was a war between the states of the North and South over many issues, the main one being slavery. It lasted four years; over 600,000 people died, making it the bloodiest conflict in American history. However, because of this terrible war, countless people were freed. God used it to bring justice and liberty to the U.S., making it into the nation it is today.

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It's very possible for one to be called by God to do something for a long time that one does not want to do. However, when this happens, it is important to remember that the Bible and history are filled with people who went through the same thing. Each of the examples above, and the countless stories not mentioned, had something good come out of it. Even if we don't want to do whatever we are called to do, we must remember that God wants us to do it – and He will use it for good.

IMAGE CREDIT:

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