God Meant It For Good!

And we know that all things work together
For good to them that love God. Romans 8:28

The term "all things" does not mean 'most things', or 'good things' or even 'joyous things', but it means "ALL THINGS'. God can use my sins, my mistakes, my wrong choices, and even my rebellion, all to work for my good.
God has a purpose for each one of us, and that purpose is that we learn to be loving, joyful, gentle, patient and kind. There may even be a special job for us thrown into the mix, but the main thing is that He wants us to learn to have the mind of Christ, and learn to have 'iron' in our soul. An example would be from Genesis and the story of Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and no doubt felt God had forgotten him. To make matters even worse, he was in prison for years through no fault of his, yet all the time God was working. He was later made a ruler and he was able to save many, many peoples throughout the world. In a poem by Freda Hanbury Allen, based on Genesis 50:20, Joseph tells his brothers it was a 'God thing'. Here are some of the verses from that poem, showing how God can use "all things":

"It was not you but God, that sent me hither."

Witnessed triumphant faith in after days;

"God meant it unto good," no "second causes"

Mingled their discord with his song of praise.

"God means it unto good" for thee, beloved,

The God of Joseph is the same today;

His love permits afflictions strange and bitter,

His hand is guiding through the unknown way.

The Lord, who sees the end from the beginning,

Hath purposes for thee of love untold.

Then place thy hand in His and follow fearless,

Till thou the riches of His grace behold.

There, when thou standest in the Home of Glory,

And all life's path lies open to thy gaze,

Thine eyes shall SEE the hand which now thou trustest,

And magnify His love through endless days.

George Mueller once said:

"In one thousand trials it is not five hundred of them that work for the believer's good, but nine hundred and ninety-nine of them, and one beside."

"What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." (John 13:7)

1. Streams in the Desert, June 10

2. The Holy Bible

3. From the heart of CC