It was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction.
Isaiah 38:17
Notice what Hezekiah says here: “It was for my welfare that I had great bitterness.” How could God use this man’s bitterness for his good?
The answer is in verse 15: “I walk slowly all my years.” “Walk slowly” means “walk humbly.” Hezekiah is saying, “I used to think that my faith was strong, but when crisis came, I didn’t do so well. There was bitterness in my soul. But God used this for my welfare. I’m done with priding myself on the strength of faith. From now on I will walk humbly.”
Pride lurks in all of our hearts, and spiritual pride is its worst form. God may use a crisis to humble you by showing you that your faith is not as strong as you think.
This is what happened to Peter. He told Jesus, “I will lay down my life for you” (Jn. 13:37). Peter thought his faith was strong, but when a servant girl asked if he was a disciple of Jesus, his faith was not as strong as he thought.
God used this to humble Peter so that he would become the gentle pastor who could write, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” (1 Pet. 5:6).
An unexpected crisis will test your faith. And God can use this to make you more like Jesus. Let the crisis show you how much you need Jesus, and then thank God that you are not saved by the strength of your faith but by the strength of your Saviour.
When has God used a test of faith to humble you and show you the strength of your Saviour?
