Faithfulness




The
Life of William Carey
By Mike Andrews


There are many people who have desires and burdens when it comes to doing the Lord’s will. Some people misread their calling, while others just ignore any of the Holy Spirit’s leading. Some face trials and tribulations and therefore think ‘this cannot be God’s will for me’. We so easily give up and follow other avenues to do what we believe to be the Father’s will (or our calling), because we can’t seem to believe that the trials and problems we face would come from a Holy and loving Father. However, the Lord says we will face trials and tribulations. James 1:2 tells us "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness".
William Carey was that very kind of man. He had a servant heart. He was a man of God who was faced with a deep burden and desire to reach a lost nation for the Lord Jesus Christ. Carey never imagined that the road ahead would lead to so many trials and sorrows; these ranged from the ministry seemingly going nowhere to no one coming to salvation. All these things were very discouraging for Carey, but he still proceeded forward in doing the Father’s will. God was preparing him to be able to face one of the biggest hardships anyone could experience, something that would make most Christians quit: the death of his child and the later death of his wife. The faith of William Carey was far greater than any trial that could be put in front of him. There were moments of doubt, but he quickly remembered the Lord in all His grace and mercy. He knew that the Lord would get him through any situation because he knew he was in the Father’s will. As a result of this perseverance and faithfulness, many great things happened in Carey’s later ministry. Many people were reached and were now able to read the scriptures for themselves. Acts 14:22 tells us to continue "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and ...through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God". "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God". "Prayer, secret, fervent, believing prayer , lies at the root of all personal godliness". (William Carey)

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