Just How Bad Could It Get?
**Do you believe that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him? http://talk.thelife.com/2006/06/30/just-how-bad-could-it-get?-2/
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”(Romans 8:28).
These words were written approximately 10 years before their author – a Jewish scholar turned Christian named Paul – was killed, probably beheaded by authorities determined to wipe out the rapid spread of Christian thought and practice. Paul wrote the words at a high point of his career (although by this time there had been many extremely low points as well), at a time when he wanted to encourage other followers of Jesus Christ.
I have no doubt that he recalled those confident words many times as his life took on the varied faces of tragedy, especially while a prisoner aboard a ship tossed about and ultimately broken into pieces, a two-week period “when neither sun nor stars appeared,??? when even seasoned sailors were ready to throw themselves into the sea to avoid being dashed upon the rocks.
“All things work together for good???? Only when we – like Paul – have discovered that God is good, that He can be trusted, that He loves with everlasting love can we live with peace during the storms of life. We can experience this peace that Paul also described as “transcending understanding,??? a peace that “guards our hearts and minds.???
Paul didn’t know how bad it would get. And neither do we. But he knew God and that made all the difference.
~Father, help me trust You in the easier days of life so that such trust becomes a deeply ingrained habit for the days that will be more difficult.
About the Author
This devotional was written by Marilyn Ehle. Read more about Marilyn: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/marilyn-ehle/
Questions:
1) Do you believe that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him?
2) How did Paul gain his confidence in God?
3) Have you experienced peace in the middle of a storm?
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It was indeed comforting and assuring that His promise is everlasting. I cannot just imagine how life would be without the assurrance of His everlasting love and His full control of all the storms of our lives.
Just finished praying for this bad storm happening to a brother & a sister in Christ that is trying to divide God’s people of our church.
It hurts me and it makes me worry and sin. I pause and ask my husband to pray with me about this big storm.
God is good all the time. I thank Him for the peace in the midst of this big storm and even the small ones at that.
What a refreshing devotional indeed! Right now I am going thru job searching. I have been on countless interviews. I have impressive secretarial skills, glowing references, but the Lord does not seem to be opening the doors for me. I have 3 young children, 9,7,3. Initially I could not find a sitter. A couple of prospects at first, but then those doors appear to have been closed shut as well. I am down to my last unemployment check. My husband recently started a new job, and is still in the training stages. He will be hauling groceries (tractor trailer) into NY-5burroughs. Anyone who has been in NY can only imagine the stress level involved in trying to fit a tractor down the congested, needle-thin streets of NY. He doesn’t think he’ll be able to do it for more than a few months. We finally have been able to secure my husband’s son 17 (good,responsible boy) to sit with his younger siblings during the summer…..I’m still not completely confident that he can handle all 3 – my children are taxing on me on any given day. I have prayed without ceasing, I have cried out to my Almighty God. I know where He closes one door, he will open another. Right now I’m just struggling with whether working outside the home is where He will open a door for me at all. I have to say, I have been home with my children for 6 months now, after 13 years of being in the work force, and I absolutely love it. However, bills need to get paid, and we need to eat, and living here in Jersey is not cheap. I’m starting to think that all these things are happening for a purpose. I’m starting to think that the Lord is preparing to move us out of here, because he has work for us to do someplace else. I know God is a loving God, and He cares for me. I know that even in this trying situation, of not knowing what is going to happen. Having no choice but to depend and lean on God, even when I can’t understand…..we as Christians should know – “WHERE ELSE IS THERE TO GO”? It is what our Lord wants of us, that dependence that reminds us, it is not about us at all, but rather, all about HIM. So, today I am going to hold to Romans 8:28! When I am tempted to feel sorry for myself, I will remind me of what I’ve just written and ask the Lord, “How may I serve YOU today, my Lord” “Direct my path”…..Praise God for His faithfulness!!!
To LIETTE and MIRIAM….WOW!!! You both sound as if you have quite the testimonies. What a blessing it is to hear that you are trusting God through some major storms.WOW! I am blessed just to have read your little blogs there and it made me realize God really is alive and at work. God bless you both!
“Transcending understanding,” a peace that “guards
our hearts and minds.” That is what I long for oh Lord! AMEN!!!!
God bless ya’ll and enjoy the sun :-)
Love Tracy
I am in the middle of a life changing event. I suffered a mild traumatic brain injury that requires a lot of therapy to relearn how to live as close to what I was before. Fighting insurance, funds running low, unable to work, and yet I feel the peace of God that will see me through this as he has in all my life events. I really enjoyed this devotion/article it reinforced what I needed to be reminded of to take comfort in. I pray for all those that are fighting against forces we cannot even comprehend. Know God is filtering all that is happening to you with loving hands!
Terrible things happen when you’re completely stressed out. I’m a fairly new Christian and so still having a hard time to remember to give everything over to God.Our son (25)is a meth addict. We went on holidays for 5 weeks this past winter. The 3rd. week, we got an email from my sister. The police had raided my house. They siezed a stollen quad, skidoo, and all of Marc’s stuff.He’s charged with theft over 5’000.00His violence is out of control He destroys our house. When we came back, he threw a fit. After12 yrs. i’d had enough.He can’t come anywhere near us and is charged with mischief. I lost my mom a yr. ago. I can barely deal with that yet.Our daughter is getting a divorce.I tried to give it over,but satan was stronger than I.My Christian sister came and prayed with me. I’m better. I gave it over again.I realize how important it really is to trust God. Yours in Christ, Liette
I have been going through a tough time with my current pregnancy, first I have hypertension, then at 26 weeks found out I have gestational diabetes, now I have to take insulin shots. I never thought I could do the things I am doing right now, or would ever have to…
But Romans 8:28 is right on, Praise God for his goodness and mercy and peace!
I was just telling my husband this very thing last night, as he was struggling with some goings on at work. It is so encouraging to know that God is there through it all.
What a beautiful reminder to let our roots go down deep when the sun shines… so the winds won’t uproot us when the storms come! Lord, may we trust You completely today with the little things as well as the big! Thank you Marilyn.
If you would like to access more of Marilyn Ehle’s devotionals you can go into http://www.christianwomentoday.com/
and then write Marilyn Ehle on the search button. That will show you a few of her devotionals that she has written.
This is inspiring when a day ago I got a $5000 bill for my homeowner’s insurance policy renewal that I have no idea where or how is going to be paid.
How can I access other devos written by Marilyn?