Monday Morning Encouragement -- All Things Work Together For Good

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

At the age of seventeen Joni Eareckson Tada was paralyzed in a diving accident. On the 50th anniversary of her accident she shared this story:

"Back in the ’70s, my Bible study friend Steve Estes shared ten little words that set the course for my life: 'God permits what he hates to accomplish what he loves.' Steve explained it this way: 'Joni, God allows all sorts of things he doesn’t approve of.

God hated the torture, injustice, and treason that led to the crucifixion. Yet he permitted it so that the world’s worst murder could become the world’s only salvation. In the same way, God hates spinal cord injury, yet he permitted it for the sake of Christ in you—as well as in others. Like Joseph when he told his brothers, ‘God intended [my suffering] for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives’” (Gen. 50:20).

Those who trust in the Lord's goodness, who believe that whatever suffering God allows into their lives will ultimately benefit them and glorify Him, possess a confident faith that Satan cannot shake. They have a peace that "passes all understanding." This strong and unshakeable faith doesn't happen immediately. We don't just wake up the morning after losing a spouse or other loved one and say, "Well, that was tragic, but now I'm going to just go on knowing that God will bring good out of this." No! That's impossible to do, and God knows it. However, through the tears and perhaps even the anger that we exhibit against Him, God stands firm in His love for us. He understands our pain and confusion. He's intimately familiar with every wound. Every broken heart. And He patiently and quietly begins our healing process before we recognize it. Often bringing other people into our lives to help guide us into His loving arms, and begin to see the purpose He has for our lives after great loss.

Those of us who have gone before, who have walked through grief and come out the other side with a testimony of how God has worked all things together for their good, have an obligation to share their experience. It not only benefits the other person, but it benefits us as we recall once more the faithfulness of God. Most importantly, it brings glory to Him. 

Today's music video All Things Work Together by Twila Paris is an anthem to Romans 8:28.

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.