GOD WORKS FOR OUR GOOD (3)

"Oh, how GREAT is Your GOODNESS, which You have laid up for those who fear You” – Psalm 31:19a

It’s helpful that we highlight specific ways in which GOD WORKS FOR OUR GOOD: “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!” (Psa.31:19). God’s Goodness is great! Knowing that He works for our good brings us great hope in tough and trying times: “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (v.24). Our times are in His Hand (v.15). Let’s ponder on few of the many amazing ways in which God works things together for good in our lives.

God Intervenes and Changes Hearts: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers of water, He turns it wherever He wishes” (Pro.21:1). God has the super-amazing ability to change our hearts to conform to His perfect plan, and the hearts of others, to accomplish His Will in our lives. God has access not only into the chambers of the mightiest of men, but keys into their hearts. He visited Abimelech “in a dream by night” and the king promptly retraced his steps and released Abraham’s wife, Sarah, to him, along with plenty of riches and wealth (Gen.20: 3-14). The mysterious God went further to respond to Abraham’s prayer, and “healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants” of barreness (Gen.20:17-18).

God Provides: He does so even in the midst of extraordinarily harsh circumstances; and usually in ways that we never would have expected. The Psamist said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread” (Psa.37:25). God could even take a person through a path of pressure and pain only to bring him or her into pasture of abundance. Joseph transited from the pit through slavery in Potiphar’s house and the silence of prison, before being elevated by Jehovah’s Hand to manifest as Prime Minister in Pharaoh’s Palace! God always ends up giving us more than He takes away; and whatever He took away would have been for our good. We may not be able to enjoy God’s blessings to the extent that He wills if He doesn’t first take away those things we think we need at the time.

God Protects: He still protects His chosen ones as He did for the children of Israel in the midst of the plagues in Egypt. God says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa.41:10). There are times in our lives when we feel like we’re experiencing a setback, but with the passing of time, we come to see that God is actually taking us out of the way of greater harm that could have befallen us. God goes to great lengths to protect us, even when we are least watchful. He told Peter in his hour of weakness: “Simon, Simon” Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail…” (Lk.22:31-32a).

God Confuses the Enemy: When we feel that someone is tormenting us, and they just seem to be getting away with it, if we can trust God and lean on Him, He’ll show up for us. Even when we cannot see what God is doing, we can rest assured that He is at work – even in the hearts and minds of our enemies. God can confound the works of the wicked. In Joshua 10, five kings colluded against the children of Israel thinking that their alliance could fight with God who was fighting for His people. God confused them such that Joshua and Israel utterly defeated them. The Lord is He Who “frustrates the signs of the babblers, and drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolishness” (Isa.44:25).