I’m a believer in the statement that all things work together for good but I’ll admit, there are sometimes I can’t see the good. When situations come up and I go through certain experiences, I always like to believe that there is some big reason out there for why things are the way they are. If we are being honest, there are certain aspects of our life stories that don’t make any sense. It then becomes this mad dash to try and figure out the reason behind everything, we try to piece the puzzle together in hopes that we’ll understand how everything is all connected.
For example, I’m sure Joseph must have wondered why he had to be sold into slavery and spend years in prison before he got to the throne. Could he really not have made it straight to the throne with God finding another way to teach him the lessons he needed to learn?
I’m reminded of Exodus 13:17-18, it’s where it was recorded that after the Israelites were delivered from the hands of the Egyptians, God led them roundabout into the wilderness although going through the land of the Philistines would have been faster. God’s reason is also recorded “If the people are faced with battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
There was a danger waiting for them in the fastest route and that is why God had to take them around. Could this perhaps explain some of the happenings in our own lives? A lot of times I find myself asking God, “how does this fit into my story?”, “how is this connected God?” Because some things just feel so random, so out of place in my life.
The question however becomes, who is writing the story? God or me? Because if it is God then how could I know what exactly fits in or not. Isaiah 64:8 says God is our potter and we are His clay. Our lives are consistently being moulded by Him. Understanding this concept means that we have to trust God that He is truly working things for our good even the parts that don’t make sense, especially the parts that don’t make sense.
Through the unanswered prayers and disappointments, we must choose to see the hand of God upon our lives. There was a time I was asking God where writing fit into my life’s plan because as much as I love doing it, I already knew what I wanted to do in terms of a career and I couldn’t understand how writing fit in. These days though, the picture is getting clearer, I’ve begun to see God causing the pieces to fall into place perfectly.
All the parts of our lives make sense, we just need to trust God.