You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. Genesis 50:20 NIV
Old Testament Joseph is perhaps the finest example of someone who has abundant reasons to be disappointed with God. If you don’t remember it all, read back over Genesis 37-50. He had one, beyond the imagination, terrible twist to his story after another, yet he always believed God was with him. He saw his hard times turn into blessings for himself and many others.
Laura Story wrote a popular song that reminds us that what looks purely evil may not be. It may be intended for good.
We pray for blessings; We pray for peace. Comfort for family, protection while we sleep.
We pray for healing, for prosperity. We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering.
And all the while, You hear each spoken need.
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things.
'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?
We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear, and we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near.
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love.
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough.
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea and long that we'd have faith to believe.
'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?
When friends betray us and when darkness seems to win.
We know that pain reminds this heart that this is not, this is not our home!
'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy?
And what if trials of this life – the rain, the storms, the hardest nights –
Are Your mercies in disguise? – Laura Story
- God, help me not be so focused on my disappointment that I blind myself to Your faithful love and purpose.