Freedom from Fear Formula, #2
God will use everything for your good if you love and obey Him.
Completely new and deeper intimacy
In my discussions about overcoming fear, the second principle which became evident was that God uses everything in our lives for our good as long as we love Him and are seeking His will. So believing in God’s goodness is number two in our Freedom from Fear Formula.
Looking back on my life, it is easy to see how God used my problems to grow me in my relationship with Him. There is no question that my experiences with an abusive spouse caused me to seek Him out in a way that I might never have done without those experiences. Now make no mistake, I’m not saying that God brought those problems to me. I am saying that He used my stupid decisions, which were made considering no one but myself, for my good.
Then, on the other hand, many times we have problems that we didn’t cause at all – that we had no choices about. When I suffered horribly from Meniere’s disease, I had done nothing to bring that on myself. But just the same, God was faithful to use that experience to draw me into a place of a completely new and deeper intimacy with Him.
Total Chaos
When you are in the midst of trials, remember that God is using everything you are experiencing to bring about a better you. James says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NLT)
Now I know some of you are thinking, an opportunity for joy? Yeah, right!! This doesn’t feel very joyful. Perfect and complete?? The only thing I feel right now is total chaos. But we have to believe that what God said is true. We want our faith to grow, but growth only happens through opposition.
Adversity makes us stronger.
According to the University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources website, a study of tree growth was done using 3 groups of trees. The first group were tied to a stake, the second were left to grow unstaked, and the third were left unstaked but manually waved back and forth for a few minutes every day. After several months, the trees were measured for growth in height and trunk diameter. The staked trees were the tallest and weakest. The unstaked trees were intermediate in height and trunk diameter, but many were not growing straight. The unstaked trees that were waved back and forth each day were the shortest but had the greatest trunk diameter. So the trees with the greatest strength were the ones that had withstood being waved everyday.
That illustration is like what God does for us when we are waved back and forth in the winds of adversity. The process is making us stronger. We can take joy in knowing that we are growing and getting stronger with every trial that we face.
A glory that outweighs them all.
Romans 8:28 (NLT) also assures us that God will use all things for our good: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. This promise is not made to those who just go through life ignoring God’s presence. It is made to those who love Him. As we seek God and His plan for our lives, He works to use everything we encounter for our benefit.
Again we are assured in 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT) that our troubles are being used for our good. “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” That’s a pretty exciting promise! Our troubles are actually being used to produce for us an eternal glory. When that is complete, our troubles will seem vastly insignificant!
Beauty for ashes!
And if that isn’t enough, just take a look at Isaiah 61:3 (NLT), To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
Imagine! When your life looks like a pile of ashes, God will turn it to beauty. Your heartache and despair will be turned to joy and praise. There are not very many things in life that we can count on all the time. But God’s goodness is one that is always there. If you are in the midst of being waved so far that you feel as if you will break, do not fear! Take heart. As surely as the sun rises every morning, God’s goodness will come forth!
See you out there! 🙂
GUARD RAIL: Know that God will use your troubles for your good.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28 (NLT)