• …The unexpected news that your teenage child is expecting a child.
• …A department wide meeting that announces the company’s downsizing plans, which will leave you and your team jobless.
• …The loss of a loved one unexpectedly.
• …People walking out of your life who you thought would remain.
• …People walking into your life with no good intentions.
• …Information from the school that your child’s behavior does not reflect the daily reminders of morals and values that your family stands upon.
• …Mental breakdowns, stress, anxiety, suicidal thoughts…
• …The marriage that was expected to last forever.
• …The wedding that has yet to happen.

We thank God for the good, but what about the not so good?

The word of God states that all things work (are arranged, produce, as a plan) together for our good.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NKJV

We must believe that even the “not so good” is for our good because we have a loving and kind Father who only wants the best for our lives, for the rest of our lives.

I die daily to this and have to remind myself of this principle – especially with the loss of my mother. Monday’s in particular are the worse because she transitioned on a Monday.

…but I’m learning to ask both God and myself a few questions that help me daily:

1. How does my Father want me to grow from this?
2. What is God going to do through me, that will impact the people around me?
3. Father what is it that you want to be for me and to me now, that you could not be prior to my mother passing?
4. How will this situation make me more like Jesus, my Savior?

These questions can be applied to every circumstance, challenge, and tragedy in life.

No hurt ever feels good but if we truly love God, we will take what He says to us, and hold tight (cling) to it. He says ALL things work together in our favor. Since God is the epitome of love, well my loving Father must be working out a loving situation for my Good.

All things imply that everything is useful to our growth in the spirit (not the flesh) because God is for us in every situation.

The question then becomes: During the process of all things being thrown at us, do we trust God while the work is being done?