“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Why do bad things happen? What could God possibly be doing through this illness? Why would God allow my loved one to die this way? These are the questions that all Christians face at one time or another. Why did God…?
Here’s the wonderful God promise lays before us here: no matter what we encounter in life, both good and bad, God will use it to bring about good—the greatest good—for us. How can that be? Well, let’s look at an example.
In Genesis, the brothers of Joseph are so consumed envy and hatred towards him that they plot to kill him. In a plan designed to help himself, Reuben says they should just leave him in pit, so that he can later come back, save him, and look like the hero. Eventually, though, Joseph is sold as a slave in Egypt, falsely accused of rape, and thrown into prison, where he is forgotten, even by those he helps. Eventually, Pharoah hears about the Hebrew man who interprets dreams and frees Joseph, eventually setting as second in command of all of Egypt. Towards the end of the Genesis narrative, Joseph’s brothers come crawling to him for favor, because they are worried he’s going to seek revenge against them after their father dies. Joseph tells them that what they intended for evil, God intends for good, that many would be kept alive. Indeed! God used the plot of the brothers of Jospeh to actually save them AND preserve the line of the Messiah.
Dear friends in Christ, God works all things together for our good, be it injury, illness, or death. We may not see it come full circle in this mortal life, but we will see it in glory. It is a promise our God makes to you here.
Let us pray: O God, Your promise to work all things together for good, including the death of Your Son at the hands of ungodly men. Confound the devil and work all his evil plots against us for our good and for our salvation. Amen.
Written by: Pastor Jordan McKinley
