April 5, 2019 – Click here to listen
I have a friend who is going through a rough patch and he is not taking it very well. In fact, he acts like a spoiled brat and is whining at every opportunity. I was severely physically abused as a young child and it was no fun. I often wondered about the verse in the Bible that states: “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.” I was thinking of my friend this morning and I blurted out aloud, “Geez I’m glad I wasn’t spoiled as a child.”
Yes, something good does come out of bad when God is involved even being abused as a youngster. When I go through a rough time of things, I just hunker down, grit my teeth, and keep on fighting through it. I don’t waste time crying about my misfortune, I don’t try to gain sympathy around me, and I don’t worry. Instead I look for solutions and adhere to a concept I have stated in this venue for years, “Work don’t worry!”
God is good and though the world doesn’t seem to get the concept, He honors His word. It may take a while and we might not understand it even when it happens right under our noses, but, nonetheless, His word will manifest itself to be true and pure. God is always teaching us and preparing us for the situations He knows we will endure. Sometimes those lessons are hard ones. Funny though it is always the tough lessons in life that we remember the most. Have you ever had a situation in your life where something bad later turned out good?
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!