For Our Good

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:20 (KJV)

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life….. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:5, 7 (KJV)

Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee. Deuteronomy 23:5 (KJV)

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100:5 (KJV)

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:3 (KJV)

Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee. Numbers 24:9 (KJV)

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man…. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:13, 17 (KJV)

God is a good God, a loving heavenly Father, and He wants only the best for us. God is good and yet bad things happen to good people. God never sends evil into our lives because He is only good, and all He has to give us are good things. However, God can and does use the bad things that happen in the world that are due to Adam’s sin and rebellion. He uses the rebellion of lucifer, now called satan, and the choices of others that affect our lives. Even our own choices have consequences. God does not cause these things, but He can use them.

When bad things happen or we suffer, we must remember that God is not the author of any of it. Even in the midst of the consequences of our own choices or those of others, or the evil in the world, we can chose to believe God and see Him work all things for our good (Romans 8:28). God never sends bad things to test, tempt, or try us, but He will use bad situations to grow us and get us where He wants us to be. God may test our faith as He did with Abraham in Genesis 22:1. He may even try our hearts to purify us to build strong character in us, making us as pure as God and strong like steel (I Thessalonians 2:4).. Jesus even tested Philip about feeding the 5,000 (John 6:6). A need arises and God wants to see what we will do about meeting that need. So, all the twists and turns in life will put us in places that God will use to show us change that needs to happen in us to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28 (KJV)

What we may believe to be a bad thing could end up for our good. That is when we see God take a bad thing and work it out for good in our lives as we pray, love God, and know we are called according to His purpose.

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. III John 1:11 (KJV)

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (KJV)

Evil is when a thing is not the way it should be. Good is the way God wants things to be for us. Always remember the devil is evil and God is good. God will take a curse and turn it into a blessing. Whatever or whoever God blesses cannot be cursed.

God is only good and every good thing comes from God. God doesn’t send bad things into our lives, yet He will use them to grow us, lead us, and make us stronger and wiser. God will use it all to make us more useable for His kingdom. Remember what we go through is not just for us, but for others also that many lives may be won to the Lord.

We always resist sin, satan, sickness, and so on. However, we walk things out in victory, never being defeated. God is always greater than whatever we face, and He always gives us the victory. He always causes us to triumph. God will test us, but not with evil. He does not tempt us to sin, but He does take the evil we face and turn it to our good because our God is good.