A wealthy merchant, Isaac, was once approached by a young man who asked, “How is it that you have so many stores and are so wealthy”. After thinking for a while, the wealthy man responded, “My boss settled me”. He went on to explain that as a little boy, he lived in an impoverished rural area with little opportunity and no plans for his future. A man from the big city visited his village one day and asked if he would like to serve him in business. That if he served long and well enough, he will be SETTLED.

Isaac, having nothing else to do and with no objections from his parents decided to travel with the city man. He served for five years, scrubbing floors, keeping the shop, marketing, selling and keeping the books. His bosses business began to prosper, and he opened new stores. It became apparent that Isaac was grossly underpaid compared to his peers but he didn’t complain and just kept on serving – bearing the suffering in silence. After about five years, Isaac received the settlement of a store. Applying everything he learned from his years of underpaid service, Isaac quickly grew his store to two and then to four, and then to eight. Every store he opened prospered and he had not stop expanding since.

In the Bible, Peter prays:

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. – 1 Peter 5:10

After you have suffered a while, God perfects, then He establishes, He strengthens and yes, He settles you.

 

1)    God can use suffering to perfect you. To establish character in you and to build resilience. But He does not just stop there.
2)     He goes ahead and offers you a platform (establishes you), so that when you speak, people listen.
3)     He goes further to strengthen you because people will criticize you when you move ahead. You become a target and will be hit on all sides. You need God’s strength to keep moving forward.
4)     Finally, God will settle you.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.- Galatians 6:9

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