“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28): “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen. 50:20).
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of a new week. Over the next several days, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to both need and receive fresh grace. We’ll never find you either reluctant or slow to give us exactly what we need. Thank you.
On this April Monday, here are a couple of grace-need-questions we can always be asking—queries which don’t require anything or anyone to change—except us.
Father, in view of Romans 8:28, what “good” are you working towards in some of our “all things”? We have people-challenges, circumstances, and hard providences we pray will change. But what if our “all things” never change, Father, or at least not anytime soon? What does “good” look like? Free us to accept and rest in your definition and provision of “goodness.”
Likewise, as we ponder Joseph’s response to his brothers’ intentional cruelty (Genesis 50:20). It’s not cliché, a biblical-Band-Aid, or easy for us to ask this, Father. What good did/do you intend to bring through our most painful, heart-impacting stories and wounds? We don’t want to normalize badness or cruelty in any form.
But neither do want to normalize a spirit of victimization, fear, unbelief, or revenge in us. This we do know, Father, whenever we ask you to show us the “good” you’re accomplishing, you will always show us more of Jesus. Thank you. So Very Amen.