God Works Out All Things For Our Good
We've all been there.
You know what I'm talking about...the times in our lives when we can't seem to get a handle on things. The times when everything comes crashing down around us. The times when the world seems to be spinning crazily out of control. The times when we wonder just where God is. The times when we cry out, "Why me, God?"; "What are You doing?"; and "Oh, please, God - just make it stop!"
We've all been there...
Maybe you're there now.
The truth of the matter is, life is cyclical - as much as I would love to live life skipping from mountaintop to mountaintop, that's just not reality. Both the Bible and experience tells me that life is more properly interpreted as a series of ups and downs; with both mountaintop experiences as well as valley-dwelling (and all of the climbing and descending that is necessarily inherent in the process). Actually, if anyone wanted to, most could honestly "map" themselves at any given time in their life as currently in the state of a valley experience, coming out of a valley experience, or gearing up for a valley experience. (Sound too negative? You are more than welcome to look at it the other way. The converse is also obviously necessarily true - i.e. most people can honestly "map" themselves at any given time in their life as being currently in the state of a mountaintop experience, coming down from a mountaintop experience, or gearing up for the next mountaintop experience. But for our purposes of our study today, I am intentionally affirming the "negative" side of this - the fact that we all go through hard times.)
When we recognize that we are in a "valley-dwelling time" in our lives, the devil will whisper strangely seductive nihilistic thoughts: "All hope is gone, everything is useless, all is lost, and no one cares - not even God." It is very important that, in those times, we remember God's promise that He is near - He has not abandoned us. In fact, the Bible tells us clearly that when we "draw close to God, God will draw close to you". (James 4:8).
Right now...
in the middle of your circumstances...
in the midst of your pain, your fear, and your grief...
in the center of your trials and your tribulations...
in the wash of overwhelming uncertainty...
God is as close to you as you allow Him to be.
Relax for just a moment and meditate on that last sentence and on James 4:8. Let the soothing peace of Christ wash over you today. Trust Romans 8:28 that says that we have a promise that we can "know" to be sure: that He is working "all" things (He's still at work; even in the worst thing you are going through) "for the good of those that love him"; those who are "called according to His purpose."
He's working out good things in your life today.
Can you perceive it?
If the honest answer is that you cannot
(which is where many of us are when hard times hit),
will you at least trust in His goodness,
knowing He's working that situation out for your good
even if you can't see His hand?
Pastor Howie
You know what I'm talking about...the times in our lives when we can't seem to get a handle on things. The times when everything comes crashing down around us. The times when the world seems to be spinning crazily out of control. The times when we wonder just where God is. The times when we cry out, "Why me, God?"; "What are You doing?"; and "Oh, please, God - just make it stop!"
We've all been there...
Maybe you're there now.
The truth of the matter is, life is cyclical - as much as I would love to live life skipping from mountaintop to mountaintop, that's just not reality. Both the Bible and experience tells me that life is more properly interpreted as a series of ups and downs; with both mountaintop experiences as well as valley-dwelling (and all of the climbing and descending that is necessarily inherent in the process). Actually, if anyone wanted to, most could honestly "map" themselves at any given time in their life as currently in the state of a valley experience, coming out of a valley experience, or gearing up for a valley experience. (Sound too negative? You are more than welcome to look at it the other way. The converse is also obviously necessarily true - i.e. most people can honestly "map" themselves at any given time in their life as being currently in the state of a mountaintop experience, coming down from a mountaintop experience, or gearing up for the next mountaintop experience. But for our purposes of our study today, I am intentionally affirming the "negative" side of this - the fact that we all go through hard times.)
When we recognize that we are in a "valley-dwelling time" in our lives, the devil will whisper strangely seductive nihilistic thoughts: "All hope is gone, everything is useless, all is lost, and no one cares - not even God." It is very important that, in those times, we remember God's promise that He is near - He has not abandoned us. In fact, the Bible tells us clearly that when we "draw close to God, God will draw close to you". (James 4:8).
Right now...
in the middle of your circumstances...
in the midst of your pain, your fear, and your grief...
in the center of your trials and your tribulations...
in the wash of overwhelming uncertainty...
God is as close to you as you allow Him to be.
Relax for just a moment and meditate on that last sentence and on James 4:8. Let the soothing peace of Christ wash over you today. Trust Romans 8:28 that says that we have a promise that we can "know" to be sure: that He is working "all" things (He's still at work; even in the worst thing you are going through) "for the good of those that love him"; those who are "called according to His purpose."
He's working out good things in your life today.
Can you perceive it?
If the honest answer is that you cannot
(which is where many of us are when hard times hit),
will you at least trust in His goodness,
knowing He's working that situation out for your good
even if you can't see His hand?
"Father God, Help me to sense Your presence in good times and in bad. Help me to trust Your whole Word and all of the promises contained within; that You are working out ALL things for my good!
In Jesus' Name - AMEN!"
Pastor Howie
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