When we suffer, we tend to ask, “Why is this happening?” Perhaps then, we blame God for our troubles. Then again, maybe we seek revenge against someone that we believe who did evil against us. Perhaps the trouble is really in our eyes. We really can’t see far ahead most of the time. Things get in our way and we can’t see past them. The same is true with our circumstances. We can’t see much past the current problem to know for sure how it will turn out. Can some good come out of the suffering that we are currently experiencing?
Even after he was brutally betrayed by his brothers, Joseph was able to tell them, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20). Sometimes, circumstances or people may cause trouble for us, but we need to be aware that God may be using this time to create a greater good. Opening our hearts to this greater good, helps us to endure and to see both God and good in these hard times.
Reluctant Retiree 