God in His sovereign goodness and grace orchestrates and transforms history; molds and shapes it into exactly what will be most glorifying to Him and good for His people (Romans 8:28)
As we look around, the world can be very overwhelming. Politics, racism, sexism, abortion, murder, hatred, genocide, greed, and the list goes on and on. God has clearly spoken against these things in His word, He clearly made a better way. As humans we have chosen to align ourselves with Satan since the garden which has left our world in a terrible state and creation is slowing unravelling around us as a result.
You have probably felt the sting of pain and deep sorrow in your own life.
But there is something truly beautiful happening too. I will say it again.
God in His sovereign goodness and grace orchestrates and transforms history; molds and shapes it into exactly what will be most glorifying to Him and good for His people (Romans 8:28).
Stop and think about that for a moment. All of the terrible atrocities happening around our world are not random, they are working together to form a plan beyond our comprehension. We have together chosen a path so far from Christ, so far from the way He outlined we ought to live, and yet He is still at work.
Praise God He has not left us to our own devices!
What love is this that God would use the worst situations to draw our hearts to Him! We have made a wreck of this world, throughout history, as a human race. Yet, God, in his kindness has stooped to enter our world and change us in the midst of it.
Think of that! Christ left the glories of Heaven. The place we look to with longing He willingly left. He left to come to a place of dirt and filth, of sadness, pain, and sorrow. He left to come to us.
Evidence of How Transforming History
What initially brought me to this subject was my study of Nehemiah. Well before Nehemiah ever approached King Cyrus to ask if he could go to Jerusalem and build the wall, Isaiah prophesied that, though King Cyrus did not know God, he would be God’s servant for the good of God’s people (Isaiah 45). God orchestrated the birth and life of a gentile king to bless His people and keep His covenant with them. Will He not do the same for us?
We can also look to Esther, a pretty orphan girl being raised by her cousin, taken to live in marriage with a pagan king who had an anger problem. And yet God used this to protect and preserve His people.
Consider Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy. He was also falsely thrown into prison for being a righteous man. God used each of these circumstances to place Him exactly where he needed to be to feed the nation of Israel when famine arose.
Consider yourself. The circumstances of life are often overwhelming, heartbreaking, and impossible to understand. BUT we have a God who can be trusted. A God Who has proven Himself and His ability to transform our seemingly impossible situations into something beautiful and redemptive.
When the world seems to be closing in and so very discouraging, look to the One who has always used human history to fulfill His promises. He will not stop now.
God forces our difficult, terrible, evil circumstances to conform to His will. He bends them and molds them so that they can result in our good and His glory. What a beautiful truth to keep in mind when everything is falling apart.
God in His sovereign goodness and grace orchestrates and transforms history; molds and shapes it into exactly what will be most glorifying to Him and good for His people (Romans 8:28).
For more encouragement in your Christian walk, please consider checking out What if God’s Plan for Your Life Starts With the Person Right In Front of You?
It is so comforting to know that God is using these trials for our good and His glory. I can’t imagine getting through life without that knowledge.
Amen! I feel the same way!!
I love this line! It is so powerful… “God forces our difficult, terrible, evil circumstances to conform to His will.” So good. It’s hard when the seasons we walk through contradict the promises of God, but God is good and faithful. Thanks for this offering…
I needed that encouragement myself! So thankful our circumstances don’t change the character or plans of our God!
Such a great post and reminder! It is an incredible comfort when a situation, caused by someone else’s free will, can and will be used to glorify God. This shows His unconditional love and mercy! Thank you and God Bless!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post!! Always a blessing to know nothing is random or outside of His ability to conform it!
I was just thinking the other day, how God uses even what Satan does for evil, to turn it around for His glory and our triumph, too. So many times I’ve seen truly evil circumstances be transformed into the riches of character and even an ability to comfort others to help them get through difficult situations.
That is a true blessing! It’s a blessing to see it playing out in your own life!
That God will redeem my pain and makes all things new gets me through some pretty rough times, I can tell you that.
I can say the same for sure!!!
God can definitely be glorified in all situations, even the ones that cause us the most pain.
Related to this topic is John Piper’s many sermons on momentary afflictions. When I lost my twins I just would keep on replay the song “Though You Slay Me” by Shane & Shane that inserts one of his sermons into the song. I had to keep my eyes on what is eternal and not transient in order to get through that very, very hard time. He totally uses our pain, and even the sins of others. Jesus’ death on the cross itself was a murder, betrayal, and testimony of false witness – yet it is the single most important event in all of history – and without it – oh where would we be?
Thank you for sharing that!! I cannot imagine dealing with that difficulty! What an incredible testimony that you are able to look to Christ – for where else would we go? LOVE John Piper and that song!! Thankful we have an eternal hope to set our gaze upon even when the darkness overwhelms us.
This is SO good and true!! God is in control and can turn everything around for His glory and our good. Love the many examples from the Bible you include!
Thank you for the encouragement! I needed a reminder this week!