Promise for Today - Change Bitter to Better

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)

We rarely change when we see the light. We change when we feel the heat. Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (GNT). Grief, loss, and pain are inevitable parts of life. But did you know that God uses these things to help you grow? He does it in three ways.

First, God uses pain to get your attention. C. S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.” Pain is God’s megaphone. 

Second, God brings good out of bad. One of the most famous verses in the Bible is Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (NIV).

When you experience a loss, it’s an opportunity to grow in character. You can’t control the pain you go through, but you can decide whether it’s going to make you bitter or better. You decide whether it’s going to be a steppingstone or a stumbling block. Remember, even in your pain, God is working for your good.

Third, God prepares you for eternity. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen” (CEV).

You’re not taking your car to heaven; you’re not taking your jewelry or your clothes to heaven; you’re not taking your career to heaven. But you are taking your character. You are taking you.

God is more interested in your character development than in your comfort. Why? Because when you get to heaven, you’ll have plenty of time to be comfortable. But life on earth is the get-ready stage; it’s the learning phase or the warm-up act. God uses your troubles here on earth to get you ready for eternal glory. That’s a comfort.

When you’re in pain, you need to ask, “What is God doing?” Is he trying to get your attention? Is he trying to bring good out of bad? Is he preparing your character for heaven?

You can trust him through it all.

Talk It Over

What does it mean that God is working for your good? Does it mean that God only lets good things happen to believers?

Why is it often easier to focus on today’s realities than on the promise of heaven?

How can you prepare yourself now so that you are ready to hear from God when you are in a time of pain?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           In this valley of hurt, our hearts feel heavy and our spirits weary. The noise of the pain sometimes drowns out Your gentle voice, but we know You are near, even when we cannot feel You. 
Quiet our thoughts, Lord, and open the ears of our souls to hear Your whisper. Let Your words be like healing rain, washing over wounds and restoring hope. Guide us with Your truth, keep us ever mindful of Your unfailing love, and help us to trust that even in this darkness, You are leading us toward light. 
We wait for You, Lord. Speak, and we will listen. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.