Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other. So that man can find out nothing that will come after him. Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

 

When someone approaches you and says, “I have some good news and some bad news”, which do you prefer to hear first? I’ll take the bad news first in hopes that the good news crosses out the negative of the bad. If you really think about it, most news we receive has both the good and bad.

 

In today’s blog I’d like for you to consider taking a different view of the “bad news”, so it softens its blow on your heart, mind, and soul. Today’s verse lets us know that anything that comes our way is sifted through the hands of God. There isn’t anything, good or bad, that comes your way that He doesn’t know about and allows. And taking it one step further, HE has a plan how to make you a better person through even the bad news.

 

As a child of God, you have to realize, this world is NOT your home. Everything you experience in this life prepares you for the next life, eternal life. For me personally, I’ve seen God’s hand work in and through some of my darkest days to help me gain trust in Him to deliver me from the adversity I faced. Wisdom, patience, love, a new direction, and a stronger commitment to Him, are just a few things gained from those tough days. I’m sure you’ve experienced the same and now see how it benefitted you in your time of adversity.

 

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

 

Paul had a “thorn in the flesh”, which bothered him greatly as he ministered to thousands of people. God saw fit to allow it to remain, so Paul could rely on God’s strength, and not by his own strength. Maybe you have a thorn in your flesh of sorts. Surrender your will to Him, asking for His will to be done, so you can refine your life to better reflect His. All that really matters in this life, is your next life and how you learn and grow spiritually.

 

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28