The Turnarounds of God

READY

"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

SET

Stef Reid is a Paralympic long jumper and 200m sprinter who competes for Great Britain. She is a five-time world record holder in the long jump and the winner of several Paralympic medals. Stef’s talent and passion for sport were spotted early.

Before she acquired her physical disability, she was already dreaming of playing rugby on the world stage. But at 15, Stef was involved in a boating accident, suffering propeller lacerations. Her life was saved, but her right foot was amputated.

Reflecting on her thought processes following the moment when her mother broke this news to her post-surgery, Stef has said publicly:” The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life is changing my attitude in that moment. I can look at this situation and yes, It’s crappy but I can either accept it and make the best of it or I can choose to be angry. And I remember one day just coming to terms with it and deciding that ‘You know what, I’m going to give the Creator of the world the benefit of the doubt and just trust that He can do something with this.' And I prayed for the first time a really true and honest prayer, and I remember being in that hospital room and it was so strange too, on the one hand, have so much anger and frustration and at the same time just to feel, actually feel in that room God’s love and God’s peace. I decided that if this is it, then that’s okay. I’m still competitive. I’m just going to walk the best I can and then later that translated into I’m gonna run the best that I can."

In Genesis, we see God turning around the fortunes of an individual upon whom a family tragedy had fallen. Joseph, whose brothers had become jealous of him, one day took the drastic and irreversible action of selling him into slavery, resulting in him being taken to a foreign land, far from his home, separated for many years from his loved ones. Years later, Joseph rose to become Pharaoh's righthand man, becoming incredibly wealthy and influential. Joseph chose to trust that God had somehow been working for his good.

Throughout the Bible, we see many instances of this, God taking things that the enemy of our souls seeks to work for evil and then turning them around and working them for our longer-term and eternal good. In whatever situation you're in, are you choosing to trust God or the circumstances?

GO

• Take some time to call to mind and ponder the toughest life experience you have had to go through. As hard and as tragic as that experience has been for you, have you fully handed it over to God in prayer?
• Do you believe and trust that God, the lover of your soul, can take even this awful experience you’ve endured (and maybe still enduring) and work it for your good in some way?

WORKOUT

Genesis 37:1-35; Genesis 50:15-21; Ephesians 1:11; 1 Peter 5:10; 1 Peter 1:5-9

OVERTIME

“Loving God, I thank You that although I may not always have been aware of it, You have been with me through the most upsetting times in my life to date. And I praise You that You are the God of faithfulness who promises to always be with me, through every trial. I love You, amen.”