You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. Genesis 50:20 NLT
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. Romans 8:28 NLT
Alexander had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day (Judith Viorst, author). He wakes up to find gum in his hair, no prize in his cereal box, no window seat on the ride to school, and when he arrives at school, he gets in trouble with his teacher. His best friend plays with two other friends, there’s no dessert in his lunch bag. After school, the dentist finds a cavity. At the shoe store, Alexander’s mom makes him buy plain white sneakers. The whole family goes to pick up his dad from work, and Alexander’s bad mood irritates his father, so he says he doesn’t want them to pick him up anymore. Back at home, Mom had lima beans for dinner, the TV show had yucky kissing on it, and he has to sleep in his very least favorite pajamas. All throughout the book whenever Alexander experiences struggle, Alexander tells his mother he wants to relocate to Australia or Timbuktu. His mom wryly reassures him that even there, people can and do have struggles.
You don’t need me to tell you that’s more than a children’s story. It’s real life, but ours is not about cavities and lima beans. Our struggle story is full of adult pain and disappointment, things that are truly life-changing and traumatic. And it is terribly difficult, a bad thing. Joseph’s story was far more than a terrible, horrible day. His own brothers betrayed him and sent him into years of suffering and separation, even prison. But Joseph decided to move beyond his runaway emotions and trust that even in these hard times, God was with him. Genesis 39 says specifically, four times, but God was with Joseph. That was the good thing in the bad thing.
That’s always the good thing in the bad thing. Whoever or whatever is against us, God sees us, treasures us, and is with us. Though we have difficulty seeing a hopeful outcome, the best thing is that our troubles always bring us closer to God if we call out to Him. Closer to Him is always the absolute best outcome. The situation may not necessarily change – but WE do. When we are able to recognize we are seen, known, understood, and fully loved, we are comforted, satisfied, and empowered for anything we face. That’s the good thing – the best thing – in every bad thing.
Not one person who ever breathed a breath was ever more seen and loved than you. Take heart, dear one. You are not alone. You are seen and cherished by the only One who completely gets you. You can make it.
- Open your heart and eyes in faith. Be still. He is here.