worry and glory

I’ve been thinking a lot this week about how God can use bad situations for good. How He can take something really crappy and use it to His glory and use it to our benefit. We’re just a little over half-way through this year and 2008 has already been quite a doozy.

Some big things have gone down in my family - from the death of my grandfather (which was both very bitter and very sweet) to a story I am unable to tell here because it’s simply not really mine to tell.

Some very special people in my life have been dealing with serious health issues, cancer mostly. I wish cancer would just go away.

Now some very dear people, who have been a great influence in my life, are living in the middle of a family crisis. My heart breaks for these friends. My mind has a hard time even processing what is going on there.

Through all of this I have seen the Hand of God at work. And I don’t just mean in a little way. I don’t mean in an “I had a hard day and then I looked out and saw the sunset and thanked God for it” kind of way. I do thank God for beautiful sunsets. He’s the best Artist out there. But I’m talking about in a Romans 8: 28 way…for we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I have seen God prepare me for much of what has happened this year. He was preparing me when I didn’t know I was being prepared or what I was going to need to be prepared for. I just found myself in the midst of situations ready to do what I needed to be done.

I know that God can take our most painful experiences, take our hurts and troubles, and use them to change our lives for the good. Families can be brought closer together. Lives can be changed. We can influence bystanders for His good, without even knowing it, by how we chose to handle the best and worst of this life.

This is changing the way I view worry.
This is changing the way I understand Philippians 4: 6
I hope this is changing the way I live my life.