Trials good or bad?

Acts 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his death.

At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Saul made it his passion and mission in life to squash this new movement called Christianity. His utter distain for Jesus! The church in Jerusalem was under heavy stress. It had to scatter. Bad or good? Well, truthfully, this was good! The church was forced now to go in places the great commission already told them to go. Same effect with Abrahams call to leave, he does not fully leaveright away. I find this same mentality in my life. Its human nature to get relaxed, or try too, and coast in life when I know I must be pressing forward. Personally, Ive experienced persecution on my job, rather strange given my lengthy tenure there. Spiritual warfare? Yes, but Ive come to understand that its actually the Lord allowing this to stir me up and press into what I really came to south Mississippi for. I take this as a great blessing and Gods guidance to be one step closer to fulfilling Gods call upon my life. That will never happen if Im excelling in my job but neglecting His church! Persecution has never destroyed the church but caused it to explode and get to that which it was called to do.