Genesis 50:19-21 (NKJV): Joseph said to them [his brothers], "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. "Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
GOD can use everything in our lives--the good and the bad, especially our challenges, failures, flaws, mistakes, weaknesses and adversaries--and He works them for our good, even when we with our limited sight, knowledge and understanding cannot see that greater good on the horizon.
Often we lament the test, the trial, the persecution, the tragedy, the illness, the sorrow, the sadness, the grief, the pain, the suffering, the loss, the betrayal, the rejection, the disappointment and the humility--the crosses we must often bear--because in the midst of it all we often don't see GOD the LIGHT in all that darkness, nor without walking by faith and not by sight will we be able to DISCERN GOODNESS, GRACE and GOD in the trenches, on the battleground, in the valleys, in the gutters, in the prisons, in the hospitals, on the mental wards, in the flames, or on those mountains with us. But GOD promises to never leave us or forsake us, especially when adversity comes or when adversaries surround us and attack when we are seemingly most vulnerable. What we must remember, even when circumstances seem unfavorable and the odds stacked against us seem insurmountable is this: GOD IS WITH US; we are not alone, nor are we without help, strength, escape or hope.
What others mean for evil against us, GOD will use it for our good, according to His will, His plans, and His purpose, and then our tests will become our testimonies, whereby others may be edified and encouraged, and GOD alone gets the glory.
When we reach this point of NOW FAITH from Hebrews 11:1, and we are led of GOD's Holy Spirit through the darkness, through the battle, through the fire, through the flood, BELIEVING IN JESUS and TRUSTING that GOD IS WITH US even when we cannot see His face, hear His voice or feel His presence, then we will always be STRONG and COURAGEOUS, even in the midst of physical, emotional, and spiritual battles, with enemies and adversaries all around us; and we will always carry the LIGHT of JESUS CHRIST in us even on the streets, in the prisons, or in the mental institutions; we will OVERCOME as MORE THAN CONQUERERS through Him who loved us; we will FORGIVE those who have hurt, betrayed, and wounded us; and we will SHARE the life lessons we have learned and the pearls of wisdom we have gleaned from GOD’sWORD through the HOLY SPIRIT, giving all glory and honor to GOD. And possibly our testimonies of GOD's GOODNESS, GRACE and MERCY and our commitment to sharing the GOOD NEWS--the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST--will SAVE another person's life or another person's soul, for as GOD’sWORD proclaims in Romans 10:17, ‘Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of GOD.’
