GOD WORKS FOR OUR GOOD (4)

"I remember the days of old; I meditate on ALL YOUR WORKS; I muse on the WORK of YOUR HANDS” – Psalm 143:5

We cannot exhaust meditating on the Ways in which GOD WORKS for OUR GOOD: "I remember the days of old; I meditate on ALL YOUR WORKS; I muse on the WORK of YOUR HANDS” (Psa.143:5). We – all that we are and have – are part of the Work of God’s hands. Yesterday, we reflected on how God intervenes to change hearts, how He provides for us, protects us, and confuses the Enemy that’s out to torment us. Here are five other ways in which God works for our good.

God Builds our Character: Nothing purifies our character and motives quite like the fiery furnace of trials and tribulations (Jam.1: 2-4; 1 Pet.1: 6-7). It is vital for us to know that we all need divine refining. God uses His Word, coupled with life’s trials to turn us into clean, pure vessels of honour for His use.

God Empowers: He is able to empower us through challenging events in a way that we never could have experienced otherwise. Rather than to leave or forsake us, God encourages and assures us: “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Dt.31:6). God often makes available the greatest amount of His Power in life’s darkest hours. But, there is no divine empowerment outside of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

God Strengthens: It is not out of place for God to use adversity to make us stronger. He does so, not to punish, but to refine and process us into the Image of His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the Potter. We are the clay. Without pressure from the Potter’s Hand, the clay can never be transformed from the Dream Vessel in the Potter’s Heart to the ultimate Vessel of Honour and Glory. The key is to run TO God and not AWAY from Him in times of trial. God has used trials to strengthen His beloved saints across the ages. We must be thankful for His spiritual strength which He imparts to us through tough times and trials.

God Makes Wise: He often does this through life’s unpleasant or painful experiences. The Ups of life are for Blessings; the downs of life are for Lessons! No pressure, no diamonds. We gain the most wisdom during difficult times – not when times are easy. God can use pain and tough times to help us to learn about life in ways that we never could have experienced in times of bliss: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jam.1:12). Though He is seldom the author of pain, God can turn pain into gain, obstacles into miracles, pressures into pleasure, troubles into treasures, and bring stars out of scars.

God Gives Purpose and Direction: We can find direction and purpose through life’s wilderness experiences as God points us on certain paths in the midst of seeming hopelessness. Our present pain is the potential seed for a fruitful and fulfilling future. The Father of mercies, God of all comfort, equips us “in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2Cor.1: 4). God can pull us through the storm and into a bright new day and joyful season like we've never experienced thus far in life.

God is good, and He can work all of the events of our life into a great masterpiece for His Glory – if we let Him.