Nelson Mandela

The death of Nelson Mandela has hit me hard. It does not matter that he was 95 and I never met him in person. The quality of his life and the lessons he taught about forgiveness, and selflessness, and humility, and his dedication to ending oppression regardless of the color of the oppressor and the oppressed are of such magnitude, how can I not grieve his passing even as I celebrate his life?

I think of the fact that he was in prison for 27 years, most of which involved hard labor and deprivations I cannot comprehend. I think of him and find myself thinking about Moses who was in the wilderness for 40 years. And Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely charged, and imprisoned.

I think of these individuals and how these difficult circumstances changed and prepared them for the work for which I believe they were created, and which touched the lives of millions. It is interesting to note that former prisoners were used to free millions of oppressed persons or save millions from starvation during a long famine.

I have heard that suffering is part of God’s preparation for those He uses. I have no expectation that I will be used in the way Mr. Mandela, Moses, and Joseph were; however, I pray for the courage and grace to walk through difficult circumstances and emerge from them free from bitterness and all that will impair, even defeat His purpose in my life. I pray the same for you.