God Can Use It All

There are many things that happen in the life of people that are obviously negative. Heart-rending instances of events that at the time just slay us. Cause us to wonder, to doubt, to question why God would put us through them. Literally for years we can look back and have those feelings wash over us again. Was just sitting here wondering why, in the face of all the experiences of people in the Bible we are given to learn from, why do we not immediately give those tough times into God's hands.

The story of Joseph for example. He goes from most favored child to slave, from slave to manager, from manager to prisoner. He has a gift for interpreting dreams. He uses it and the guy he helps says"I won't forget this" and then promptly does. Instead of release, he suffers a relapse. But the story ends in triumph and praise for God. Joseph tells his brothers who had sold him into slavery:

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. Gen 50:20 (NLT)

Yes that event in your past was awful, but God can use it.

Just had another example of that this week when a teacher prepared a lesson for a class that cut one pupil to the quick - even caused him to question how the teacher could know his circumstances. The teacher didn't, but God did. And the circumstances were almost identical to something the teacher had experienced in their own family years earlier. When they happened, hearts were broken. But many years later, God used that experience to speak Holy Spirit powered truth into the heart of someone in a way they were open to hear.


We're apt to see God everywhere when things are going well, but I'm here to tell you, God can use it all.

Grace and peace,

David