All things work together for good

 By Gary Amirault

A little boy was telling his Grandma how "everything" was going wrong. School, family problems, severe health problems, etc. Meanwhile, Grandma was baking a cake. She asked the child if he would like a snack, which, of course, he did. "Here. Have some cooking oil." "Yuck" says the boy. "How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Grandma." "Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Grandma, those are all yucky!" To which Grandma replied: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way and put into the fire, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why he would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"

''O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.'' (Psalm 34:8)

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28)

There is a poem I read years ago which I believe was written by Corrie Ten Boom that described life as a tapestry of many fine colored threads-some gloriously bright and beautiful and some dark and not so beautiful. But combined in just the right way both bright and beautiful and dark threads produce a wonderful image when viewed from the right side. But when viewed from the backside or bottomside of the tapestry, one sees nothing but dangling knotted threads, colors seemingly out of place-nothing pleasant to behold even though it was the very same fabric.

How one views something depends upon where one is seated. If one is in their "carnal" (earthy) mind, one will see something ugly or seemingly incomplete. But if one is in their "spiritual mind," if they are "seated in heavenly places with Christ"...well then one can see the beginning from the end...one can see the purposes of God perfectly completed. Where are you seated?

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph. 2:6-10, NIV)