Good!

On 3/25/21

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 ESV

I have had this verse on my mind and heart for the past couple of weeks. I have asked the Lord how He can work this for good! I think we’ve all seen countless ways. The internet is flooded with church services, Sunday School lessons and worship songs. Families are eating dinner together. Life in general has not just slowed down in some ways it’s come to a STOP. In my life personally I have had good time at home. I’m reading and creating more. (I haven’t quite fit in the exercise yet but I’m working on it) I’ve enjoyed, almost to the point of feeling guilty, the slower pace. What can God work for your good in all of this? How can He restore your soul? I’m not saying that God caused this pandemic. But He can surely use it if we lay it at his feet. I miss the people too. I enjoy my people. I love church and gathering with friends and oh how I look forward to that again. But right now, while we must stay home to stop the spread, I’m asking Him to work this out for my good. And if you are His, you can do the same. 

Today: 

I love this verse.  I have loved it for a long time. Even before I made myself realize the stipulations that go along with this verse. That all things work for good for those who LOVE GOD and are CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE! It’s not  that all things are going to work for good for those who don’t love God. BUT if you LOVE GOD, then you are CALLED to work for God in some way or another. Some are called to vocational ministry, true, but we, who LOVE Him all have some sort of ministry, we all have purposes in the kingdom and therefore we all have purpose! Therefore, yes, all things will work together for good, for the good of His kingdom and for our good. Even the hard things in life, if you lay them at His feet and ask Him to use them, they will work for good. 

So how has this past year worked for good? During the original writing I was still working from home and I was enjoying my time at home, but I went back to the office in June of last year. I have to say that for me, I have been more focused in my time at home since the whole thing hit last year. When I am home, I really am creating more, and/or studying or writing more than I was before. (I still haven’t gotten in sync with the exercise.) I still think that while this has been a hard year, that it seems to me that families in general are more inwardly focused than they were before. More people are coming back to church in the building lately and I can honestly say that it seems more vibrant and lively than before. It feels like there is more of an appreciation for it than before. I know I personally took it for granted. I loved church before, but I really love being in church now. I look around every Sunday and I am just so grateful to be there.

I really do not want this to come off as a simplistic, Pollyanna approach. I have had some hard stuff happen and this has been a hard year for everyone. But I can honestly say to you that I am a more content person, happier and yes in a lot of ways much more productive and feel like the purposes that He has for me have a direction that I didn’t necessarily feel prior to the year we have just had. I can honestly tell you that things that have happened this past year, while they have been hard, have been worked out for my ultimate good. I see His hand on my life, and the lives of the people I love in ways that I have maybe not seen Him before. Not that He wasn’t working before, but I think I recognize His hand more. By now you know I like reflecting. But it’s not meant to be reflecting to stay in the past but to see what direction my future is taking. Reflecting is good when it is meant to see the blessings. It builds faith and trust that He’s got you! When you can see how He has worked things for your good, even the hard stuff of life, it’s easier to place your trust that He will continue to work for your good.