God is Good in Trials
You know it well, Romans 8:28, “God causes everything to work together for good.” Actually, let me read the whole verse, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and those reassuring words from Paul, don’t they seem like a sweet, cool breeze on a sweltering afternoon? We know that in all things, not just some, or a few, or the things that seem good, but all things, God is workin’ all things for the good of those who love him. Now stop and think about those two perplexing words: all things. Does the Bible really mean it, like you know, all things like really, really bad things? Terrible things?
Well, take a moment and think about Paul who wrote these words. What were some of the all things that he experienced? On the Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul lists some of them. Severe floggings, staring death in the face, body lashings with a whip, brutal beatings with rods, terrifying shipwrecks, danger from bandits, heartaches over betrayals and false believers, his reputation getting smeared, incarceration in one jail after the next, exposure, exhaustion, hunger, thirst. The list goes on and on. And most of us would say that our problems pale in the light of Paul’s list. Yet he could write, “I know that in all things God works for my good.” And if Paul could say it, believe it, what is keeping you and I from believing in God’s goodness right now, in the midst of our difficulties and pressures and disappointments? Think of some of the “all things” that have happened in your life. Is it hard to think that those things – those awful things – could possibly be used of God to do somethin’ good in you, or in the lives of those around you? If you are doubtin’ that that could happen, I understand, I get it. I mean, I’m the lady with the broken neck, and at first, I had the hardest time trusting God with Romans 8:28. I couldn’t imagine that the “good” God wanted to do in and with my life would ever, ever outweigh the grief, the tears, the disappointment of losing use of my arms and my legs. It was unthinkable. It was impossible. But God enjoys doing impossible things, and so, as I began to hold fast to Romans 8:28; as I prayed (and this is what I would pray), “Oh Jesus, this is your promise, not mine; you said you can do this; so I’m gonna take you at your Word. I’m going to stop badmouthing my diving accident as though it were the worst thing that ever happened. I’m gonna stop playing the victim, drawing on people’s sympathies. I’m gonna stop blaming you for even allowing my accident. OK, no more complaining God. Instead, I’m gonna trust that you have it all in hand, for the purpose of making me a, I don’t know, may be a better, different person. Frankly, I, I had to finally believe that God’s idea of good (you know using my disability to make me more like Jesus) friend, I had to believe that that was more desirous than walking. I had to desire the life of Christ in me more than having use of my hands. Could I do it? Could I believe it? I decided yes.
Now, did I change overnight? Of course not, oh my goodness! But the point is, I started moving forward into life saying, “Yes, I am gonna believe Romans 8:28. Believing that to be like Jesus is the best, the sweetest, the most fulfilling and desirable thing I could ever, ever want.” And you know what? It is. So today, believe that God has your best interest at heart. Believe that Jesus is more desirable than all the hard things that you endure. I invite you to visit joniandfriends.org.
© Joni and Friends
Starting a Buddy Ministry
If you are looking for ways to welcome families impacted by disability in your church, starting a buddy ministry is one of the best ways to begin! A Buddy Ministry is more than a program, it’s about building relationships.
Listen as Crystal chats with disability ministry leaders Sib Charles and Candy Nixon about the impact a buddy ministry has on families and the entire church body.
