“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
You may say, “How can this thing that has happened to me be turned for my good?” Yet, the scriptures show us time and again how God turned bad situations for people’s good.
In 2 Kings 4, there is an account of the Shunammite woman who showed kindness to the prophet Elisha. Not only did she provide meals for him, but she even had her husband build an extra room for him to stay. Elisha wanted to do something kind for her. When he inquired, she responded by basically saying she didn’t need anything. However, Elisha’s servant pointed out that she was childless and her husband was old. The prophet called to her and let her know that she would have a son. She had a hard time believing at first…but it came to pass.
However, a time came that her son had grown, and one day he became ill and suddenly died. The woman kept faith and sought the prophet Elisha. When her husband asked where she was going she only responded, “It shall be well.” When the prophet Elisha learned of her situation, he came to the boy and after praying and laying himself on him, the boy came back to life. Elisha returned him to his mother completely healed.
Later Elisha let’s the Shunamite woman know that there will be a famine in the land and to leave for seven years. She does as he says and at the end of the seven years she returns back to her own land. When she returns, she prepares to go to the King to plead for her land and house back that she had left. Just before she enters, the scriptures say: “And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done. And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life. And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.” 2 Kings 8:4-6
The terrible thing that had happened to her and her son is the very thing that not only restored her property back to her, but restored everything that she had given up during that time. God is good! All her wealth was restored!
You may say, “Well, that is something that happened that was out of her control. What if I make a mistake? How can my mistake be turned for my good?”
I’m glad you asked that question! When God says ALL things work for our good…then ALL means ALL; even your mistakes! People sometimes think that the way their mistakes work for their good is that they learn a good lesson on what not to do again. That is part of it, but God does exceedingly abundantly above what we can ask or think! He will do so much more than that. Let’s take a look at how God turned someone’s mistake into a blessing.
In Genesis 20:2 Abraham travels through a king’s land. Out of fear that the king would kill him and take his wife Sarah, he ends up telling the king that she is his sister. The king takes her. However, God comes to the king in a dream at night and tells him he’s a dead man because he’s taken another man’s wife. Of course the king tells the Lord that he was unaware, and that he didn’t touch her. The Lord responded saying, “…Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife…” Genesis 20:6-7 The king not only gave Sarah back to Abraham but he gave Abraham great wealth out of his treasures. Therefore, Abraham left the land much wealthier than he entered. God had made even his mistake work to his benefit.
Not only that, but it was recorded that this was the SECOND TIME Abraham did this with Sarah!! You would have thought he would have learned after the first time, yet he does it again. In each situation God protects Sarah, and Abraham ends up richer than before.
You see, when God says “All things work for our good” He really means it. We just have to believe it. Time and again the scriptures show us how this works, from Joseph whose brothers sold him into slavery, to only end up being the second richest and most powerful man in the world (saving countless lives from famine); to Daniel who went from being the a top advisor to the king bot being thrown in the lions den for his faithfulness to God. Yet, he was brought out of that lions den and as a result, not only was he restored to his top position, but the king wrote a decree over the entire kingdom that all were to give honor to the one and only living God and Daniel’s testimony went throughout the kingdom. Time and again, the scriptures record how what the enemy meant for evil was turned for good to those who love the Lord.
Let us not only believe God for victory over circumstances that come against us, but let us believe that our lives will now actually be made better for having to face those circumstances. As Proverbs 6:31 says: “But if he[the thief] be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.” Jesus says in John 10:10: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Therefore, when the enemy, the thief, attempts to steal from us in any area of our lives, he must restore seven fold! Whether it’s a circumstance that has come against us or whether it’s a mistake the enemy has tempted us to make. Regardless, he must restore sevenfold!
Be of good cheer, we have overcome the enemy. What the enemy meant for evil, God will turn for our good!
Genesis 50:20
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
Ephesians 3:20
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…”
Romans 8:31
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Psalm 46:1-3 & 7 & 11
“GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah” …”The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”…The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
Psalm 118:5-6
“I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”
1 John 4:4
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Psalm 126:5-6
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalm 30:11
“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”
1 John 5:4
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
