As Max Lucado concludes Chapter 8 of You’ll Get Through This, he emphasizes that while the story of Joseph especially compels us to believe that God works for the good of those how love Him, we must understand good from God’s perspective:
“But we must let God define good. Our definition includes health, comfort, and recognition. His definition? In the case of his Son, Jesus Christ, the good life consisted of struggles, storms, and death. But God worked it all together for the greatest of good: his glory and our salvation.”
The bottom line, Max notes, is that we either trust God your turn away. Christyn Taylor faced such a choice. In 2012 her husband lost his job, their seven-year-old daughter had six surgeries in six months for a pancreatic disease, and several members of her husband’s family died. Then Christyn delivered a still-born girl. Her line in the sand had been crossed. She questioned why the God she loved could allow all this to happen so quickly. Ultimately she came to this realization:
“The only conclusion I came to was this: I have to give up my line in the sand. I have to offer my entire life, every minute portion of it, to God’s control regardless of the outcome.”
As Pastor Lucado concludes, whether we have good days or bad days, God is in all days.
Today’s question: How might letting God define good alter your perception of your ministry downsizing or vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Tell everyone what God has done!”
