Do What You Can

Acts 28:30-31 (ESV)
30  He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,
31  proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

For two whole years Paul lived under house arrest. In Acts 28:16 we learn that Paul stayed in a house by himself with a guard. While Paul had some freedoms he was not really free. He always had a guard keeping watch.

Paul had a mission. He felt called to take the gospel to as many people as possible and to establish churches. For two years he could not travel. While Paul did get to live in his own house he had to do  this at his own expense. I am sure companions in the ministry helped raise funds for Paul's lodging and meals. Paul was trapped in that home though.

These were not wasted years. Paul constantly received and welcomed people who came to visit. Some were lost. Some were new believers. Paul welcomed them all and constantly preached or taught  about Jesus to all who came to see him. Even though under arrest this did not deter Paul from his mission.

If he did not use his time to preach and teach he used it to write. He wrote what has come to be known as the "Prison Epistles." Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and after getting released and imprisoned again II Timothy. Those prison years were not wasted years. They were productive years. God sat Paul still long enough to write sacred scripture.

There are 27 books in the New Testament of our Bibles. Paul wrote 13 of those books. Out of that 60% of what Paul wrote he did so while under arrest.

You may not like your present circumstances. You may feel like God has forgotten you and that you are wasting away in your sufferings. With God this time is not wasted. If you submit to Him and do what you can where you are God can still use you. You can still be productive. Just do what you can.