13 Reasons To Keep GoingSample

GOD IS WORKING

“Hang on. This is gonna be bad.” – Jeff Goldblum, The Lost World

It was tragic and unexpected. One minute, a group of colleagues were having a quiet dinner. The next, two of them were dead. And it was no accident.

Put yourself into this story. You’ve been with these people for three solid years. They are your students, your buddies, your comrades, your confidants. Then someone comes along offering cash for information.

Maybe you’re the one who sees the offer as a way out of a dead-end career. It probably won’t cause any lasting damage to provide a heads-up to the authorities on your friend’s whereabouts. Why not make a little spending money on a side gig?

Or maybe you’re the one who is doing what he knows is right, only to see your friend approaching, wearing a strange, nervous expression. He greets you with a kiss. And that sets in motion the events that lead to an incredible amount of pain and suffering.

Even before the physical pain, there’s the emotional wounding of being betrayed. Has that ever happened to you? Or have you ever been the betrayer? 

Relationships are messy and, often, quite painful. Human beings tend to be selfish, greedy, and don’t always care about your feelings or well-being. 

When Judas betrayed Jesus, even though Jesus knew it was to fulfill the Father’s plan, it still hurt. And instead of just brushing it off, Jesus described it as an hour when darkness reigned. 

It was evil. It was wrong. It was unexpected. Yet it happened. And God used it.

Life can seem chaotic. But even when darkness seems to reign, God is still present and in control. And He can bring good out of evil acts. 

The Bible makes this amazing promise: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Do you know that? Do you believe it? God is working for your good if you love Him. 

PRAYER: God, I do love you. But I’m so confused by the terrible things that have happened in my life. The unexpected things. Please make sense of it so that I can have peace. I need hope that the pain isn’t without purpose. Work “all things” for my good.