Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Getting through tough times”
Our Bible verse for today: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “God brings good things out of bad things.”
Returning to the story of Joseph as recorded in the book of Genesis, one of the things that stands out to us is that Joseph endured so much that could only be described as “bad”. His brothers threw him into a pit and then sold him into captivity. He was a slave first of Ishmaelite traders and then in Potiphar’s house. He spent years in prison. For thirteen long years his life was characterized by unfair and brutal treatment, a complete loss of freedom, and an uncertain future.
I don’t believe that God actually caused those circumstances. I simply cannot fathom God inciting the brothers and the traders and Potiphar’s wife to engage in those evil and sinful activities that resulted in Joseph’s pain and hardships. But God was there, and He was at work, and He did use those bad things to bring about good things.
In his book, “You’ll get through this” Max Lucado wrote, “The devil had Joseph right where he wanted him. So did God.”
Yes, I think Satan was the cause of those bad things that happened in Joseph’s life, but it was God who used them for His purposes and for His glory, and for Joseph’s ultimate good.
This is the great truth the Apostle Paul was teaching in Romans 8:28. Not all things are good. Some are bad – very bad. But God is there and He is at work in the middle of those bad situations and in His own way, and in His own timing, He will bring good things out of bad things for the benefit of those who belong to Him.
Joseph couldn’t see the future, but God could. Joseph didn’t know what was ahead of him and therefore he didn’t what to prepare himself for or how to do it. But God knew. And so God used those thirteen years to prepare Joseph for the work he was to do for the rest of his life. And that turned out to be very, very good.
This is true in your life too. You can’t see your future. But God can. You don’t know how to best use your current tough times to prepare yourself for a better future. But God does. So turn it all over to Him. Claim the promise of Romans 8:28. Cling to it. Ask God to use it to give you hope and strength, insight and wisdom, and ask Him to help you faithfully persevere.
God brings good things out of bad things. He did it for Joseph, and you can believe He is in the process of doing it for you too.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 