20
God Can Turn Bad to Good
John TiltonGenesis 50:19-20
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
When we look at Joseph’s life and all the challenges and dire circumstances that he found himself in through no cause of his own, but especially the initial situation brought on my his brothers, one would think that there would be residual hurt and spite. Yet, Joseph not only chose to forgive his brothers, but to see God’s hand and plan that he would need to go through many fires in order that God’s plan would be accomplished and many lives would be saved.
I remember thinking way back before coming on staff that going into full time ministry would be the dream call and position where I would get to serve God and that every day would be bliss in relationships, assignments to be done and expectations of me, because that’s the way I thought it was supposed to be. Surprise, surprise, surprise! Healthy and loving relationships still required intentional attention, assignments got harder and expectations were higher. The people quotient of taking unexpected hits was a new surprise. It has become a reality that the intent to do God’s will in serving Him actually makes us a bigger target for the devil.
Yet through God, like Joseph, we can turn what the devil means for interference and destruction into victory and success for the Lord, if we are able to know that challenges will come; not if, but how often and how big. I know that I need to look for God’s will and plan in what I am confronted with, look to Him and persevere in doing what I can do to finish well. As I look to Him and do my part, I believe that He will bring His plan to fruition. Like Joseph, I also believe that God’s will in that game was served and that the lesson portrayed was bigger than life.
Dear Lord, even when situations seem to be dire, turn out to be dire, and basically a bad situation; I turn to you to see the silver lining, and know that if I follow your will, you will either turn bad to good, or show me the life lesson tht will grow me.
