… but in the end, it all works out the way it’s supposed to.
“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
Joseph experienced a lot of bad things. He was rejected by his brothers, he was sold into slavery, then he was accused of something he didn’t do and was ultimately thrown into prison. But his faith never wavered, and God ended up blessing Joseph’s entire family because of that.
Paul the Apostle likewise experienced a lot of difficult trials. He suffered beatings, imprisonment, and numerous attempts on his life. But these things would all work together for God’s plan for him to become a radical Christ follower and spread the Gospel.
God works in ALL things – not just isolated incidents – for our good. But this does not mean everything that happens to us is good. We live in a fallen world where sin is prevalent and sometimes bad things happen to us, just as bad things happened to Joseph and Paul.
Where many of us Christians struggle is with the false assumption that God is at work doing everything to make us happy. Was Joseph happy when his brothers sold him into slavery? What about when Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of trying to rape her, which led to him being wrongly imprisoned? Was the Apostle Paul happy about being shipwrecked, beaten, and thrown into prison? Of course not!
But looking at both Joseph’s and Paul’s example, we can readily see how God’s plan worked out for both His good and their good, and the same applies to us!
Back in 2021, my mother was very sick and had been for several months. Her condition rapidly deteriorated and the last 15 days of her life were spent in a hospital bed, under heavy sedation, breathing with the help of a ventilator. I received a call from the doctor informing me that she wasn’t going to pull through, her heart and lungs were simply too weak for her to survive. During the 10-hour drive to the hospital where she lay, I prayed and asked God to take her home before I got there so I wouldn’t be forced to make that heart wrenching decision to end her life.
My prayer went unanswered. I arrived at the hospital and she was still with us. And I became incredibly upset with God. Why are you making me do this? Haven’t I been through enough the past year? Why? Why are you putting me through this?
Within 2 hours of taking her off of sedation and unhooking the ventilator, my mom became conscious and opened her eyes. I was the first person she saw when she woke up, and she smiled at me.
I jumped to my feet from the chair and held her hand to my face… I smiled at her with tears running down my cheeks. In her weak voice that I struggled to hear, I leaned in to understand what she was saying. “My dear son… How are you?”
We talked for an hour! She was so weak, but man… she fought right up to the very end. She died early that next morning.
Had God given me what I wanted, I would’ve missed out on that opportunity to enjoy one last wonderful conversation with my mom. There’s not a day that has passed since that I don’t remember that smile she gave me that afternoon when she woke up.
Even when my life seems to be spiraling out of control, I realize that God is still in charge of everything. It may not seem like it at the moment, but He is always working things out for my good.
Thought for today: What situation am I going through today that I need to consider that God might be working out for my good?
Former Blackout Artist 