Genesis 50:20

Genesis 50:20

“You planned evil against me; God planned it for good.”

This verse comes from a well-known story in the Bible about Joseph. It tells us what his brothers did to him and how God brought good out of it. So often in our lives something bad happens and we are pressed down and overflow with sadness and grief. We don’t know how or what will happen and we are scared.

God is capable of doing anything at any time for any reason. That includes turning good out of bad. But accepting that when we are troubled comes hard. Our vision is so short and limited we can’t think that in a day, a month, or a year or five years God can and will turn it into good.

God can bring about incredible good from any situation. God overrides evil for eternal good. He wants us to trust Him for the outcome of all that happens.

Biblerepository.com: “This powerful verse teaches us about the incredible ways that God can turn situations that seem wrong into something good. This reveals a profound aspect of God’s character — His ability to see beyond our flaws and failures and use them for a divine purpose . . . ‘but God intended it all for good.’ This shift from harm to good encapsulates the beauty of God’s intervention in our lives. It serves as a reminder that, even when faced with adversity, God’s overarching plan is one of love and restoration. The contrast poses an important reflection on how tragedies and challenges can be woven into a larger, redemptive narrative . . . One of the most powerful lessons is the importance of perspective. Life’s adversities can cloud our vision, making it difficult to see past our immediate pain. Like Joseph, we can choose to shift our focus from the harm done to us toward God’s greater purpose. This necessitates faith — believing that God can turn our trials into triumphs.”

While human intentions may be evil, God can use those very actions for a greater good, demonstrating His sovereignty and purpose in our lives.

When bad things happen, or wrong choices are made, or we grieve over someone else’s choices, God can take that situation and work it for good. Every situation. Every time.

Call out His Name when you find yourself anxious or afraid because of wrongdoing or wrong choices. God always hears. He always works. And He always wins!

By His Grace . . . 

Isaiah 40:28

 

Isaiah 40:28

“Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the Everlasting God,

    The Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

    And His understanding no one can fathom.”

If there’s one thing that’s common among humans, it’s that we all grow tired and weary. And we certainly don’t understand everything. That’s just life. These words in Isaiah about our great God are comforting. He never grows tired or weary. He understands everything.

We don’t have to be concerned whether He really knows what is happening in our life. Whether He knows how much we hurt; how much time something is taking, or if we’ll survive what we’re going through. He knows and understands.

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: “The God who made all things must be infinitely wise. There is proof of boundless skill in the works of His hands, and it is impossible for finite mind fully and adequately to search out all the proofs of His wisdom and skill. Man can see only a part - a small part, while the vast ocean, the boundless deep of His wisdom, lies still unexplored.”

Godsbless.ing: “The phrase ‘He will not grow tired or weary’ contrasts human frailty with divine strength. Unlike humans, who tire and falter, God’s energy and commitment are limitless. ‘His understanding no one can fathom’ highlights the incomprehensible wisdom of God, reminding us that His ways are beyond human understanding . . . Furthermore, the verse also emphasizes that God gives power to the weak and increases the strength of the powerless. This reassures us that we can find renewed strength and energy by putting our trust in Him. Instead of relying solely on our own limited abilities, we can lean on God’s strength to help us overcome our weariness and face our challenges with resilience. We can find the endurance we need to persevere through difficult times by surrendering our burdens to Him and seeking His help.”

These are two attributes of our God that help and guide us through each day. Know and remember this. It’s just two areas of God’s Power that are available to us at all times. Now we know. Now we’ve heard.

By His Grace . . . 

Ephesians 2:8-9

 

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Thank you, God. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for saving me. We both know there is nothing I can do or say that would be good enough for You. Thank you for taking me just as I am.

How great is this verse? What a gift we have been given. None of us is righteous, not one of us. God, in His graciousness, has said: “Come to me just as you are.” It is My gift to you.

No matter what we do for God, we would not be excepted by those works. This is a gift beyond expectation because we know ourselves very well. It is a divine gift. It is God’s grace and has nothing to do with human effort.

Godsbless.ing: When Paul writes, ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith’ he emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, not something we earn. The word ‘grace’ here signifies unmerited favor, a gift that is given without any expectation of return. ‘Through faith’ underscores our response to that grace—trusting and believing in God’s promises . . . The phrase ‘and this is not your own doing’ serves as a humbling reminder. Our deeds, no matter how good, cannot earn salvation. ‘It is the gift of God’ reinforces the idea that salvation is a divine gift, freely given out of God’s abundant love . . . Paul continues with, ‘not a result of works, so that no one may boast.’ This statement eradicates any grounds for personal boasting. It draws our attention away from human effort and redirects it to divine grace.”

We only have to believe. No matter what we have done or how bad we think we are, if we believe, it is given to us. Hallelujah!

Enduringword.com: “Paul cannot speak of this glorious work God does without reminding us that it is a gift of grace, given to the undeserving. We are not even saved by our faith (though faith itself is not a work), but by grace through faith . . . God did it not of works simply so that no one could boast. If salvation was the accomplishment of man in any way, we could boast about it. But under God’s plan of salvation, God alone receives the glory.”

Charles Spurgeon: “Our new life is as truly created out of nothing as were the first heavens, and the first earth. This ought to be particularly noticed, for there are some who think that the grace of God improves the old nature into the new. It does nothing of the sort.”

I know how thankful I am that God took me just as I was. I didn’t have to change anything to be saved because He loves me. I just had to believe. I continue to be thankful as He now works in my heart and brings about changes in my life for the better. One day I can thank Him in person.

By His Grace . . .