Can Good Come Out of This Situation?
In times of great difficulty, people often wonder how they will be able to continue. The pain may seem too great for them to handle or the sorrow too deep. They often ask, “Will anything good come out of this tragedy?” When God is involved, the answer is always yes!
However, it may take time—in some cases, years—before you realize God’s providential hand is always at work in your life. When you do, you also will come to know that you were never alone, forgotten, or abandoned. At every turn, Jesus was beside you.
David writes, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me” (Ps. 23:4). There is only one way to face adversity, and that is by faith in Jesus Christ. Either you can struggle against life’s difficulties, or you can turn them over to the Lord and ask Him to give you the wisdom and strength you need to handle each one.
When you commit your life to Him, He will take care of all that concerns you. That is His promise. David writes, “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lov-ingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; do not forsake the works of Your hands” (Ps. 138:8).
In Philippians, the apostle Paul reminds us that there is no limitation to the accomplishments we can achieve if our hearts are set on Christ. He writes, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (4:13). With these words, Paul reveals the secret to dealing with life’s hard-to-handle challenges. It is dependency—dependency on a sovereign, omnipotent God, who loves us with an everlasting love.
Over his lifetime, the problems and trials Paul faced were anything but light. In fact, he tells us in 2 Corinthians, Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. [Forty lashes was a sentence of sure death.] Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weak-x ness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. (11:24–31)
From a human perspective, Paul should have been dead, but he was alive to do the will of God. He writes, “For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within. But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us” (2 Cor. 7:5–6).
When you face sorrow, heartbreak, and disappointment of any kind, He will do the same for you. He will comfort you so that you will not grow weary (Isa. 40:31). He will teach you how to trust Him to a greater degree, and He also will show you how to comfort others who are hurting and facing tremendous trials (2 Cor. 1:4–7).
The problem that you are struggling with today may be one that has lingered for a long time—so long, in fact, you may wonder if it will ever be resolved and if life will return to being normal.
But adversity, like nothing else, has the ability to bring about solid, constructive change in your life. When you allow God to bear your burdens, this change will result in a closer fellowship with Him.
As you read through this book, I want to challenge you to alter the way you view life’s problems and trials. Instead of cowering in fear when difficulties come, step out in faith and trust God to deal with your circumstances.
Without a doubt, He will teach you to face life’s problems the way Joseph, Elijah, Moses, Paul, and Peter did—by staying the course, fighting the good fight of faith, and developing a new attitude toward the problems of life. In fact, when it comes to adversity, God always has a greater plan in mind.
It is my prayer that you will come to know the love of the Savior in a much deeper way. Then when life does become dark and stormy, you will immediately know to turn to God in prayer, trusting Him to care for you.
You will watch in amazement as He works on your behalf. Therefore, believe, pray, and know that if adversity touches your life, God is at work, and He will bring you through this season of difficulty victoriously!
