Pastor's Corner: Let God work it out for the good
Hello! In my last article in March, I ended with this thought … “Maybe when I come to September, I’ll start my article with 'FINALLY! I have the privilege of being with you again!'”
With that in mind let me just say “FINALLY! I have the privilege of being with you again!”
After some prayerful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that during the month of September I would share with you some of my favorite Bible verses. I have many. At the top of my list is Romans 8:28. In fact, I shared this with Kamryn, my confirmation gal from this spring, and she told her Grammy that she wanted my favorite Bible verse on her cake for her confirmation party.
And, it was! I love that she remembered that and wanted it on her cake.
In Romans 8:28, Paul states that “All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”
Before we look at what it does say, let’s take a look at what it doesn’t say. It doesn’t say that all things are good. There are many things in our life that we might label as “not good.” I know in my life past, present and I’m sure in the future, that I would find things that are “not good.”
Paul doesn’t say that everything is good, but he emphasizes that even the “not good” will eventually work out for good. As I look back over my life, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t change one thing.
Now, let me just clarify that there are decisions that I have made that I look back and think, “Oh, I wish I had chosen differently.” But, being the complex person that I am I can say that, and in the same breath that I wouldn’t change a thing.
If you think that was hard to follow, try listening to me on a Sunday morning. But I digress. I believe that if you Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength, then you know that God is more than capable of taking the “not good” and working it out for good.
That’s what God does. He takes our mess and makes it His message. God takes our test and makes it His testimony. I heard that one from Joyce Meyer. She said that some people have a test and after have the “moanies.”
As Christians, when we go through a trying time or a time of testing, we are to come out of it with a testimony. She’s a clever one, that Joyce Meyer.
Our life is never just a moment in time, but a whole lot of moments that God uses to create a beautiful tapestry of our lives.
A wonderful saint from the Hustonville UMC once told me something that has served me well through the years. I had preached a very difficult sermon that left me feeling very drained. It was on death. One elderly lady in the church came up to me and said, “That is the first time anyone has ever accurately articulated to me what I felt when I lost my daughter.”
I was glad she shared that with me. I was glad that the sermon helped her. But I left the church feeling like I had failed.
Mr. Carey said to me, “When one of my students would come to me with regret over something, I would ask them this question. 'In five years, two years, two weeks, two days or two hours, is this really going to matter?'”
I really appreciated Mr. Carey saying that to me, because it was the beginning of me letting go of the” not good” and letting God work it all out for good. You are not the sum of your mistakes or of the “not good.” You are a child of God. God loves you so much that He wants to take your mess and make it His message.
Rest assured this day that no matter what your life may look like this very moment, God can work it all out for good.
If today, you look back over your past and find yourself regretting decisions that you have made and/or beating yourself up over decisions that you have made, please, I beg you to let it go and let God work it out! There is no bigger waste of time, in my opinion, than beating yourself up over something that happened 10 years ago or even 10 seconds ago.
In the words of Rafiki from the Lion King as he talks to Simba about his past, Rafiki says, “It doesn’t matter; it's in the past.”
Simba says, “Yeah, but it still hurts.”
Rafiki says, “Oh yes, the past can hurt. But, from the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.”
I’m here to say nothing would bring God more Joy this day than you running to Him and letting Him work everything out for GOOD. God Bless you.
Rev. Lynette Barnett pastors at First United Methodist Church, Forrest and Chatsworth
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Pastor's Corner Rev. Lynette Barnett Let God work it out
