Question– “Can anything enter your life without God causing it or allowing it?” You know the answer–“Absolutely not!” Whether it is good or bad God either makes it happen or lets it happen. He is always in control. However, sometimes during a time of disappointment or difficulty we forget that. When someone mistreats us we tend to complain. We can’t imagine it being a part of God’s plan. We act as though God shouldn’t allow it or couldn’t prevent it, nor use it for good. We convince ourselves that we are justified in getting bitter, withholding forgiveness, and taking revenge. We use it as an excuse for not being content, not being thankful in all things, and not rejoicing always as the Bible commands. But God doesn’t let us off the hook. We are not excused from duty because it is difficult, nor relieved of our responsibility because of another person’s evil.
If ever there was an example of how we should respond to those who abuse us it is Joseph. Think about the all he suffered at the hand of his brothers, yet he said to them, “it was not you that sent me hither, but God–“(Gen 45:8),”...ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good“( Gen. 50:20). That’s amazing! And God expects us to have the same attitude. He says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). So how are you doing at that? Be honest–God knows, and it probably shows. Some folks don’t even return good with good, let alone good for evil. They are unloving and unkind, yet we are to love them anyway.
Chances are someone has done you wrong, hurt you deeply. The question isn’t “what are they going to do?”, but “how will you respond?” Scripturally or sinfully? If you want God to use the evil for good you must overcome the evil with good. You can’t solve every problem or cure every ill, but with God’s help you can manage it. You can’t get out of it, but you can get through it, and get something from it. Life isn’t always the way we want it to be, nor as it should be, but we can do right regardless of the wrong, and it pays great dividends.–HDS
