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What is it in your life that is your greatest sorrow or regret? Did you know that even those things God has allowed in your life, and they can be used for good? I’m talking about Kingdom Equity–what God invests in us and how he wants a return on his investments.
Please understand I am not saying that God is the author of all these difficult things; God never condones sin or evil and it is never from God. But our God is so great that he never wastes anything in our lives, even our sorrows or our sins or abuse we’ve suffered, or our failures.
We are so prone to say, “God is good” when something favorable has happened to us. A friend just got a job after a few months of unemployment. We say, “God is good.” A baby is born without any problems; we say, “God is good.” A journey is traveled without any accidents; we say, “God is good.” We got money back from our income tax, and we declare, “God is good.” We got a report back from the doctor and the lump is benign, and we shout, “God is good.”
Are those signs of God’s goodness? Absolutely. But what about the hard times and the disappointments and the bad news? Are we just as quick to affirm that God is good—all the time? When Job’s wife suggested that he curse God and die, he said, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10)
Whatever has happened to you, is happening to you, or will happen to you can become instruments that God can use in your life. I’ve often told how I wandered for ten years away from God and his plan for my life. That wasn’t what God wanted for me; it was my own sinful choices. But I can tell you that I’m better able to help and encourage others because I know what it’s like to live with the consequences of my sinful choices. That means I have understanding and empathy for others that I probably would not have had without those ten years of disobedience.
God doesn’t waste anything in our lives. He uses everything that has happened to us as a means to display his glory. All of that junk, the stuff you would have eliminated from your life story if you had written it—all of it can become instruments of God’s grace to others.