A God Withgood Purposes

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

Pause

Joseph suffered rejection, slavery, and wrongful imprison-ment in his first three decades of life. This would have been a lot for anyone to handle, but imagine how he felt knowing his brothers’ role. A lesser man might have become hateful, consumed by a need to seek vengeance. But something set Joseph apart and empowered him to respond to his brothers as only a man of integrity could.

Joseph lived Romans 8:28 long before Paul penned it: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (nasb). These words applied can transform our attitude toward those who play a role in causing our pain. It changes our focus from what they’ve done to what God can do in spite of them.

Nothing can thwart God’s purposes for us. No one can usurp his authority over us. He can overrule even when someone with evil intent has hurt us.

Ponder

Reflect on what “all things” looks like in your situation.

Pray

Lord, please turn the shards of my situation into stained glass.