Like many, I am deeply saddened by the events that have taken place this past week - from Louisiana and Minneapolis to the events that unfolded in Dallas late last night. It’s heartbreaking to think of how many people have lost their lives; with each life lost, there are countless people profoundly impacted by their death.
It’s easy to watch the videos and read the headlines and add commentary as to what’s wrong and what should be done, but behind the videos and the headlines are people whose worlds have been turned upside down. With each devastating tragedy, lives are forever changed.
It’s important to talk about race.
It’s important to talk about change.
It’s important to talk about justice.
It’s important to talk about these things… and much more.
But one thing that I can’t stop thinking about is something Joseph said. Something that, if true, offers profound hope to those who are hurting and sheds light on a very dark situation.
Joseph was one of many brothers. Because he was favored by his father, he was the one they all hated. Their hatred led them to attempt to murder Joseph and eventually sell him into slavery. There, Joseph was falsely accused of rape, and he was imprisoned for the better part of a decade. Joseph's faithfulness to God while in prison earned him an immediate promotion from inmate to second in command – a position of great power and influence. Seeking help, the brothers unknowingly fell at the mercy of the one they had tried to kill so many years before. Once they realized it was Joseph, they were terrified.
But Joseph said something to them that not only calmed their fears, but calms my fears in the midst of such horrific tragedies such as the events of this past week.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
Can God take something that man intends for harm and use it to accomplish good?
Can God take something that is absolutely evil and use it to accomplish something beautiful?
Can God take the worst of humanities intentions and use that to accomplish something so pure, beautiful, lovely, and righteous?
Yes. The answer is always YES!
Joseph, the one on the receiving end of all sorts of evil was able to say in time… 'God used it ALL to accomplish something amazing… the saving of many lives!'
I don’t know how God will use the events of this past week to accomplish something good, but I know He can, and I know He will.
I don’t know how God will use the pain, devastation, tragedy, and brokenness to accomplish something good, but I know He can, and I know He will.
Just as in Joseph's time, men intended harm, but God won’t just use some of it, He will use ALL of it for His good. No ounce of pain will be wasted. No measure of brokenness will be wasted. ALL of it will be used by God to accomplish His perfect plan - man seeing a holy, righteous, just, and loving God. This is the storyline of the entire bible.
I know that I can bank my life on this truth of ALL THINGS because of Jesus. Man intended the murder of Jesus for absolute pure evil, but God used that to bring me “...safely home to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)
There is much to talk about and discuss in the days moving forward. But not to be lost in the midst of needed conversations on race, justice, and change, is that God can and will use ALL THINGS to accomplish something beautiful. Like many of you, I am saddened, frustrated, and deeply concerned with all that’s happened this past week. This isn't to say, 'Don't worry – God will work it out.' But I am confident, not in man, but in the One who can take the worst of humanity's intentions – what we rightly weep over now – and use it to one day bring about the salvation of so many.
P.S.
Are you wondering how God accomplishes good out of evil? One way is that He uses people who have experienced His grace, generosity, and goodness firsthand to help others experience it as well. In the midst of so much evil, God used Joseph to bring about the goodness of God. In short, God wants to use you to bring about the good He wants to accomplish in this world. People often say 'God works in mysterious ways.' No mystery here... God uses imperfect people to bring about healing, restoration, reconciliation, peace, hope, love, and a lot of grace... a whole lot of grace!
#BeUsedByGod
