I overheard someone I really admire say, “Only good things come from God.” While I hold her in high esteem, with all due respect, I beg to differ.
Jesus never promised His followers would live lives of only good things if we followed Him. In fact, He continuously spoke about the struggles we would face to live a life that glorifies Him. He was completely transparent when He said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Have you read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5? Every verse proves a believer’s life will be far from perfect!
So, this is where a lot of Christians get this wrong. If we believe a life following God means every effort we make will be blessed and our lives will be easy, of course we will become discouraged when things don’t go our way. I’ve met so many disheartened people who placed their hope in what God would DO instead of who He IS. So when the story doesn’t end the way they thought it might, they distance themselves from walking with God.
But here is the good news – while we will experience difficulties while following God, He does not ignore what is happening. Instead of saying “Only good things come from God” the more accurate statement is “God makes all things good!” We will experience trials, loss, heartache, illness, betrayal, and regret. Sometimes we will experience pain, other times we will be the ones who cause pain. God is aware of it all.
Instead, we are taught following God is not having an absence of pain or difficulty but God will use those experiences for our good. There is no pain without purpose, no loss without lesson, no trial without testimony. God uses the bad stuff for our good! Then, by shaping and refining us through those situations, we become the people who glorify Him. He doesn’t waste a moment of the experience – each is used for our good and His glory!
Trusting God in the hard things allows us to feel His presence deeper and see His hands moving in the details. If we simply turn away because the story had a plot twist we didn’t like, we miss the best part. We miss the redemption, the restoration, and the triumphant victory that appears when God makes all things good!
Be blessed,
Jennifer
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28