…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 unexpected loss of a loved one.

…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 morals and values that your family instills in him/her.

…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. Why? The Bible says that every good and perfect gift comes from God.

“Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all.” James‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭CEB‬‬

This was also proven and performed at the beginning of creation, when God looked back over everything in the book of Genesis, and saw that “it was good.” If He is the Creator of good, and if everything He does is good, then even the mess that we place ourselves in, will end with a good report.

We have a loving and kind Father who only wants the best for our lives, for the rest of our lives.

I often have to remind myself of this and I am learning to ask the Holy Spirit 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 the “not so good?”
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.

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, when it seems that everything is being thrown on us at once, do we trust God while the work is being done?