Have you ever felt as if your life was like a tossed salad–everything thrown into it–chopped, diced, sliced, shredded? Some things are delightful, some are sorrowful: there’s work, play, problems, pressures, stress from family situations, children, serious illness (cancer, heart disease, etc.), disappointments, death, divorce, caring for elderly parents. We can add in emotional problems, depression, guilt, shame. (That’s quite a list of ingredients for our “salad,” isn’t it?). Not all things are pleasant to our taste, are they? And then along comes someone like me and tells you,
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose,” Rom. 8:28.
I’m reminding not only you, but myself also that: not all things ARE good; but all things are FOR good. So, what IS my good?
The next verse explains, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son.” V. 29. Here’s where the rubber meets the road! We can rebel and put the brakes on and say, “Forget it,” or we can yield to God’s purpose in our life. Although we may not totally understand, we can let Him use our “tossed salad” for His glory and mold us into the likeness of His Son Jesus Christ. Our life can be a wonderful testimony of the grace and power of God and what others can have as they trust Him also. The choice is ours.
THINK ABOUT IT:
What is presently in your “tossed salad life?
Is it good or not so good?
How can God use it so Christ will be seen in you?
REMEMBER:
God has a reason and a plan for “all these things.” The key is –YIELD to God’s purpose.