"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.
Thank you for this Nancy. Your perspective and personal example is beneficial for encouraging us when we walk the difficult roads in this life. I appreciate the words Steve spoke to Joni also, I'm going to remember that.
ReplyDeleteThis is a hard topic, but it is still true. Everything, every event, works for our greatest spiritual good.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week! Have the aspen trees turned to gold yet?
This was a powerful and deep post. We do need to remember to share our experiences where the Lord has been there walking through our shadow of death troubles with us. He doesn't take those time away but He is always there, right beside us, if we don't push Him away.
ReplyDeleteHe uses the hard times to bring about growth. I have grown spiritually more in the past 5 years than any other times in my life and only because I had to lean into Him for my every breath. When we have times where we think we'll never make it (true is we wont without Him) He's there. He's the Good Shephard taking the hook on His staff and pulling us back into the heard, back into His presence. Oh, what a mighty and loving God we serve.
I believe this for the life of Charlie Kirk as well. The Lord is going to use his life and death to bring many more young men and women to Himself. Righteous will prevail . . . we've read the book and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt how it ends.
God bless you Nancy, and keep up the good work, you are a good and faith servant :)
Thank you for this encouraging post—blessings to you, Nancy, as we begin a new week.
ReplyDelete