There Is Good In All Things! Part One

Good: Suitable, fit, agreeable, pleasant; of a favorable character or tendency
Things: A matter of concern, event, circumstance

God said in His word, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Roman 8:28). God's purpose for putting us into and through trials are for our growth and for our perfection - even when it doesn't seem like it at the time! As Christians, many times we become disheartened, disillusioned, and discouraged because we are thinking like the children of Israel - that God has brought us to a place of suffering to kill us. But trust me when I say that is an evil thought about God's Holy nature because that is not His purpose for trials at all.

God's purpose for trials is to make them a part of all things that work together for the believers' highest good. Also, trials serve as a great advantage in helping us find and build a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. That's because those hard times push us to enter into new revelations of God's word. Those trials also tend to separate us from things that are unlike Jesus Christ. Take David for an example - he had much suffering in his life, from Saul and his Son Absalom, who formed a bold conspiracy against him. David's heart was broken under the crushing pressure of the slanders and threats from his own son. However, through all of his suffering and pain, God's Spirit enabled David to write many beautiful Psalms for his comfort and for the soothing comfort of a broken heart down throughout the ages.

Psalm 61:2-3 says, "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." Like David, we must flee unto Christ, the Rock of Defense. Remember, the scripture says arm yourselves likewise as the Lord suffered, so will we (I Peter 4:1). We must ask the Lord to hold our hands, to guide us in the midst of pain, and to be our strength. As Psalm 147:3 reminds us, "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." God is an awfully good God and if we put our trust in Him we will see that all things really do work together for our good!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen and... AMEN!