GOD'S GOODNESS THROUGH SUFFERING

Praising God when everything is going well is easy. However, life does not always turn out the way we expect. When we face hardship, we might be tempted to doubt God’s goodness. As I reflect on my life, many circumstances have left me confused, wondering how God could bring good from suffering and sorrow.

Situations like these remind me of Joseph in the Bible. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, wrongfully accused of adultery, and sentenced to years in prison. Through all his experiences, he could have been tempted to be angry with God. However, instead of hardening his heart, Joseph chose to trust God. As a result, God brought him out of prison, exalted him over all of Egypt, and used him to save his family from starvation, preserving the promise line of the Messiah.

Years later, Joseph’s brothers worried he might try to get revenge for their terrible deeds. However, Joseph forgave them, extending love and mercy by providing for them and their little ones. Recognizing that vengeance it the Lord’s, Joseph compassionately reminded his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Gen. 50:20, NASB). Joseph’s life pictures forgiveness, restoration, and trust in God’s sovereignty.

When I was a young girl, a complicated situation required my family to find a new church. I did not understand everything, and I wondered why God allowed it to happen. It was hard to leave my childhood church. However, God was at work behind the scenes. God’s providential hand guided my family to a new church, where He saved me through the influence of my Sunday school teacher sharing the gospel. Looking back, I can see how God orchestrated everything to draw me to Himself. Like Joseph experienced, I learned that God never wastes a single moment of suffering. However, that does not necessarily make trials less painful or challenging.

During the decades of Joseph’s time in Egypt, Jacob despaired, believing his son was dead. In Courageous Faith, Ed Hindson notes, “On the surface of things, it may have appeared that everything really was going against Jacob. But in reality, God was moving for Jacob. He was at work in every circumstance to accomplish His will and purpose in Jacob’s life and in his entire family” (Hindson, 2003). God can take our most painful moments and use them in ways we could never have dreamed. Joseph’s life is a picture of God working in and through hardships for our good and His glory. Paul reminds believers, “we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

I do not have all the answers. There are still ongoing situations that I have no idea how they will resolve. Nevertheless, one thing I do know--God is good. He is faithful. He is at work even when I do not understand. So, like Joseph, I will live daily by faith in God’s strength, trusting in His goodness and steadfast love.