All Things
By Marsha Iddings
Ephesians 1:11 In him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of his glory.
As I was reading this verse in my morning devotions, I was struck by the phrase "...him who works all things according to the counsel of his will...". This verse says that God works all things according to the counsel of his will, not just some things. This verse goes along with Romans 8:28, which says, "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." Again in this verse, we have the phrase "all things". I don't know about you, but I find it easier to see how God uses the good things that happen in my life for my good and his glory. When bad things happen it is more difficult to see how there can be any good in it.
When I got tendonitis in my arms, I couldn't see how this could be good. All I could see was the inconvenience that it was going to be for me. As days have turned into weeks and I have spent many hours at physical therapy and sitting with my arms on heat and ice at home, there have been times when I have succumbed to the temptation to complain and grumble. God has been teaching me to look for the good in even the bad things that he allows into my life. So, what good has come out of my having tendonitis? It has afforded me a regular time to sit down to read my Bible and pray each day. It has given me lots of time to catch up on my other reading. I am learning how to be a better parent by learning how to delegate responsibilities to my children. These are just a few of the good things that are coming out of this difficulty. Who knows what other good things will come out of this?
My morning devotions have reminded me that nothing happens to me that hasn't first passed by God, be it good or bad, because all things are according to the counsel of his will. If God has okayed some difficulty to enter my life then it is because he has some good for it to accomplish either in my life or the life of someone else. If you are in the middle of a difficulty, don't lose heart, God is at work.
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