How God works all things for our good

“In the twilight and at break of dawn, the Lord God works all things for our good.”

Can you imagine a life without mistakes or missed chances? A life where you are able to achieve the very things you set out to do?

That would be awesome, right? The perfect life.

But, we know life isn’t like that.

There are so many things that could go wrong, that could make those things we desire, ‘could have been moments’.

Those moments we feel could have defined and changed the very course of your life, for the better.

They were real, palpable but somehow didn’t quite pan out.

What we need to work out

For me, I realised that I had a huge part to play in those things not happening. 

This was partly due to my reluctance to do the right thing at the right time. See, I was usually willing to do the right thing but hardly ever at the right time.

This happened with my school work, my career, my writing (any other could have been authors?), my business, my relationships and even social and communal events.

You’re probably with me on this.

You’re probably with me on this.

You may feel like somehow you have directly or indirectly made your life less than it could have been. 

I know for many young women, this may have been so in our careers and relationships.

It’s almost like we are now paying the price for those decisions.

Thinking of the ‘could have been’s can cause us unbearable pain. It’s like a never-ending cycle of mistakes and regret.

The outcome of these mistakes could have meant ending up with the wrong person, taking a job for the wrong reasons, cheating, fornication and even having an abortion.

But do you know something? This is not the end of our story.

How God works all things for our good

There is an amazing scripture I want to share with you. You probably know it but let’s look at it again:

“and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose” 


Romans 8:28

This scripture taught me a few things:

• God wants things to work for the “good” of his children. They don’t necessarily have to be good things as we perceive them but will work for our good.
• Many times, his children choose wrong or don’t understand his will for them.
• Notwithstanding this, God uses those mistakes, near misses, our hurt and shame to chart a new course for our lives.

 

Let us pause for a second to truly contemplate this scripture.

Isn’t it liberating to know that God wants you regardless of what you’ve been through?

Even when you are filled with regret and no longer “want yourself”, He still desires to commune with us, his children.

This scripture is critical to understanding our worth in the kingdom. I just want to reiterate that it is all things, not some things or many things but all things work for our good.

But he requires two things of us:

• We love Him with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind. Matthew 22:37
• We are called according to his purpose

Paul, the Apostle of Christ goes on to tell us that

“…if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

1 Corinthians 5:17

 

This is instant cleansing. The moment you gave your life to Christ, you became a new creation, a new you who is not beholden to your past sins and mistakes. A new you who has now been called to God’s purpose.

I know many times we are still besieged with all the things we didn’t do. This is certainly the case for me. Somehow, I had been made to believe that I was less of me because I didn’t do a number of things I ought to have done or not done.

Do we really believe God works all things for our good?

My question for you is: whose report are you listening to, God’s report or the world’s?

It is important that we check whose words we are you allowing take root in our lives.

Many times, we let the negative and hurtful words people say to us and the ones we say about ourselves overshadow everything else. These words then dictate our beliefs and actions.

‘If everyone says I’m no good then maybe I really don’t have what it takes to succeed.’

Well, my dear sister! That just ain’t true! If God says you are fearfully and wonderfully made, then you have to believe him.

He has told us that he is able to do exceedingly and abundantly, above all we could ever ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20(paraphrased)

So, why do we doubt these things? Is it from a fear of the unknown or because we are human(and imperfect)?

I know sometimes, our doubt might not be intentional, it may be very subtle. We want to believe that God loves us in spite of all we’ve done but it seems there’s that little voice that takes us right back to doubt city.

Living a life of victory is not one without fear but one lived in spite of our doubts, worries, fears and mistakes.

God’s love for us is perfect, without any conditions or expectations. And we know that Perfect love drives out fear. (1John 4:18)

I need you to let go of your burdens and realize that God is able and willing to use everything we are, to do his will.

Everything we are today, not tomorrow or next year.

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”

Psalm 118:22

 

This is not a licence to continue in our brokenness but to understand that his steadfast love and mercy never ceases.

My dear friend, are you ready?

Let us stop dwelling on the past but rather learn from these past incidents and move on knowing that God has truly got our back. Let us embrace his words and know that God works all things for our good.

Are you struggling in any area or not sure of your next step? Take it to him in prayer and don’t forget we are here for you and will be your ‘sister’s keeper’.
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Prayer

Lord God, you see my heart and know where I hurt and the healing I need. Please strengthen and cleanse me of my unbelief. Let me stand on your word knowing that you have begun your good work in me and only you can complete it.

Amen