When we’re going through a tough time, it can be easy to blame God. We ask ‘Why?’, we analyse everything we’ve done to see if we’re being punished for something, and we can feel hopeless. There are plenty of stories in the Bible of people who had to face really tough situations. They must have wondered where God was at some points. Joseph ended up in prison, as did Paul. John was exiled on a remote island. Lazarus faced illness, and death. But God used all this suffering for good. The imprisoned Paul wrote the Epistles. The banished John saw heaven. Lazarus’ death led to Jesus performing one of His greatest miracles (you can read about this in John 11). The prison in which they placed Joseph became his stepping-stone to the palace for which God had destined him. The thing is, unless we believe that God didn’t cause our suffering, then we won’t see the good that He can bring out of it. Looking back, Joseph could say, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV). When we look for God’s goodness and purposes in our situations, we’ll stop blaming Him and begin to see those situations differently. We’ll see them as stepping stones to blessing. We’ll see them as opportunities to learn and grow. We’ll see them as ways for God to be glorified. God will use the circumstances we’re in today to strengthen us, draw us closer to Him, and accomplish His will for our lives. So let’s try and see God’s goodness, whatever we’re facing.

What Now?

Whatever you’re going through right now, try declaring out loud every day that God will use it for good.