What kind of season are you in right now?
Lately, I’ve talked with a lot of folks who seem to be experiencing a season of struggle, setback, discouragement and weariness. Life has a way of delivering some devastating blows. It might come in the form of an illness or health issue, it might be a ministry setback, a personal loss or just a hard season of life filled with lots of disappointment, frustration, pain or despair. We all walk through difficult circumstances in life. We all encounter the wages of sin, the results of a broken and fallen world inhabited by a sinful and broken humanity. Sometimes we suffer and struggle as the result of our own sinful choices and sometimes it’s the result of the sins of others. We suffer. We experience pain. We experience disappointment.
This past week I had an experience that reminded me that the Lord doesn’t waste anything. He allowed me to draw from one of my most painful experiences to minister to a friend walking through a similar journey. God doesn’t waste anything. He’s at work in the good and the bad of my life to accomplish His will, to advance His kingdom, to bring Himself the Glory that only He deserves. He’s even at work in the pain, hurt, disappointment and struggle. We may not be able to see it and sometimes, we may never fully understand, but we can know that God is at work even in our most difficult times to accomplish His work in us and through us.
I don’t know if you’re in a good season or a difficult season right now, but please know that God doesn’t waste anything. Remember the words of Joseph who had the privilege of looking back over his difficult journey and was able to see how God had been at work all along the way: “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). Sometimes we have experiences like Joseph; where we can look back and see how God used our pain and hurt to accomplish something far greater than we could have imagined.
Sometimes we can’t make sense of our pain or difficulties. Sometimes we can’t see how God might be at work in the midst of our painful circumstances. In those times we can cling to the truth in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” You may not be able to see it now, and you may not ever be able to fully understand or appreciate how He is at work to redeem the most difficult pieces of your story, but He doesn’t waste anything. He’s at work even in the midst of pain and sorrow.
I just have the sense that more than one of my friends need to hear this today. Don’t lose hope and don’t give up. God is with you in the midst of your pain, difficulty and frustration. He is with you and He sees you. He’s hasn’t forgotten you or forsaken you and He’s even at work to redeem what you don’t think can be redeemed. Lean into Him right now, trust Him and be obedient to Him even in the experience of pain.
May Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:58 encourage today in whatever season you may find yourself: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
God doesn’t waste anything.
Christ’s Peace,
Lance