Both Rain and Sunshine Makes a Rainbow

Lately i have been struggling to remember that God uses trial, suffering and sin (including being sinned against) for His glory and for our benefit. Sometimes it is exceedingly difficult to look through the cloud of adverse circumstances to see God's face. Circumstances lie to us just as our emotions do, yet because of His mercy, God has given us His word to remind generation after generation of His character. Not only are we blessed with promises like Romans 8:17, Ephesians 1:11-14, Psalm 116:1-2, and 2 Peter 3:9; but we are privy to tales of God's beloved; people in history who loved, trusted and even failed God through great trial.

In this day we have been blessed with a spy glass into the nature of God showing us how He has kept His promises. So many stories like that of Job, Elisha, Ruth, Daniel, David show us a pattern of grace. It may be impossible for us to see the light at the end of our personal tunnel, but we are aware of God's pattern of love and care for His people. Ultimately, we know that Jesus in His glory awaits us in eternity and that is the greatest gift we can't imagine. Yet, as in the cases of Job, Joseph and as Peter may have alluded to in 1 Peter 5:10, God will also bless us in this life for His glory as well. Be it blessings of wisdom, knowledge of God or:

Genesis 50:20
²⁰As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

This Scripture encapsulates the entire story of Joseph. After being sold into slavery by his brothers, taking false charges of rape and enduring years in a dungeon, Joseph had every right to want revenge on his brothers. Instead, he sees that God used his circumstances to stage the greatest hunger relief program of the ancient world.

There are many things that we are suffering in now that, when we look back, we will see the sovereign hand of God guiding us.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org