Daily Devotion

Many times, we get this idea that we deserve good things to happen to us.

Then, when we face hardships and troubles, our lives get derailed.

The thing is, this is not an accurate depiction of what our lives should look like.

The thought that we are deserving of good things is a completely skewed way of thinking.

Because of sin, we are told in Romans 6:23 that we are deserving of death.

 

Not a healthy family

Not a nice car

Not a great retirement plan

Not a perfect relationship

Not even a good meal every night

Death.

 

And because of the sin that is in our lives and the world in general, it is inevitable that there will be conflict.

Conflict has this way of being able to hijack our thoughts and ultimately damage our relationships with the people around us.

Though conflict can damage relationships and cause pain, it doesn’t have to stay that way.

 

You may have heard the song that says,

“You make all things work together for my good.”

 

The question is, do we really think that’s true? Do we think God can take…

Our hurt

Our pain

Our brokenness

Our struggling relationships

And use them for our good and His glory?

 

The 8th chapter of Romans really unpacks this question for us.

It starts in verse 18 by saying,

 

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are

not worth comparing with the glory that is to be reveled to us.”

 

Paul continues in verse 28 and says,

 

“And we know that for those who love God all this work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose.”

 

These verses tell us that there will be conflict.

There will be suffering.

People will get hurt.

People will disappoint you.

You will disappoint people.

 

But with that conflict, God promises that He will make it work for our good IF we love Him.

We may not see it unfold right in front of us.

We may not notice how these awful situations are being used for good.

But God promises that it will be.

 

When you’re in the middle of conflict it is hard to see how good can come out of it.

The only thing we can do is actively love and follow Jesus.

Jesus even said that we will have tribulation, but that in Him, we will have peace.

So, as followers of Jesus we need to walk with Him, trusting that He will make good come from the tough situations in our lives.

And that He will glorify His name through it.

 

Ian Crosby

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