The Best Worst Thing

And we know that in all things God works

for the good of those who love him.

(Romans 8:28)

I failed at being a wedding planner. No one wants a planner who gets so undone by the neurotic mother of the bride that she throws up in the parking lot right beside the guest sidewalk. Really, nothing says, “Welcome to my wedding,” quite like that.

I failed at being a kitchen gadget saleswoman. No one wants to see the tip of a thumb sliced off into the veggie pizza at the exact moment I was promising how safe this gadget is. Awesome.

I failed at being a cafeteria lady at a private school. My assistant decided her arms were so dry she needed to coat herself with our spray butter. When we took the trash out later that day, we both got attacked by bees and forgot about the pizza in the oven. Kids don’t take kindly to burnt pizza.

I failed at being a receptionist. It’s never a good idea to just succumb to those sleepy afternoon feelings and lay your head down on the desk. Bosses don’t like workers who snore. Even if they are pregnant.

Yes, I failed at a lot during those years when I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. At the time, each of these things felt like the worst thing that could have happened. Now I think they were the best worst things.

Had I been successful at these things, I never would have discovered the joy of being in the ministry I’m in now. I see this same theme woven throughout many stories in the Bible.

Jesus is getting into a boat with His disciples. “Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat” (Matthew 8:23 – 24). Worst thing. But then Jesus gets up and rebukes the winds and waves, and things turn completely calm. The disciples are amazed. Best worst thing.

The apostles are being arrested and thrown in jail (Acts 5:12). Worst thing. But then an angel of the Lord opens the doors of the jail and brings them out. Later, they are so full of confidence they boldly proclaim, “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29). Best worst thing.

Jesus is crucified and dies on a cross. Worst thing. But then on the third day he rises from the grave, making a way for us to be forgiven from our sins. Best worst thing.

I don’t understand why we have to go through cruddy stuff. And I certainly know there are far worse things to go through than a few job changes.

We live in a broken world full of broken people. But isn’t it comforting to know God is never broken? He isn’t ever caught off guard, taken by surprise, or shocked by what happens next.

He can take our worst and add His best. We just have to make the choice to stay with Him and keep following Him through it all.

Even a neurotic mother of the bride who makes a wedding planner’s stomach work in reverse can become a best worst thing.