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bigmike

Romans 8:28 (NKJV) 28 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.
Sometimes, as we watch things happening around us, we have questions.
We wonder, aloud, and in our minds, about why and how certain things happen.
We sometimes see great harm come to people who are good, and even godly.
And we see evil people who never seem to face consequences for their actions.
And we question why.
And while this is a legitimate question from a human standpoint, we must be careful not to let our questioning cause us to begin to doubt God and His purpose.
We may find ourselves doing this when we see meaningless deaths. Whether it be via massive catastrophes or individuals who died needlessly for what seems to be no good reason, we wrestle to understand it all.
One such death happened recently, which I wrote about previously this week; the assassination of a young man of God whose mission it was to teach an upcoming generation of young adults who God is, and the truth of His word.
His death was sudden and shocking; totally unexpected. And it has caused shockwaves around the globe, across the nations and across a diverse group of peoples.
As I pondered this, seeking God’s guidance and wisdom to understand it all, He led me to two verses that I hope will help others reconcile this terrible occurrence as much as it helped me.
I pray that what I share is received properly, and that it does not cause confusion.
God showed me two verses. One of them is at the top of this devotional. The other, I will share shortly.
You see, God does not cause murders. He does not cause assassinations. He does not cause mass casualties.
But amid these kinds of tragedies, He can use them to bring about incredible good.
The recent murder of a well-known Christian man has left his wife and two young children behind; a widow, and two fatherless children. It is truly tragic.
But in this man’s death, God is causing millions around the world to take action that may not have happened otherwise. It is causing a spiritual stirring that may well have laid dormant had it not been for this terrible event.
It is important that we recognize this during times of tragedy. We must see everything through spiritual eyes and allow God to show us His purpose in everything.
And with that said, here is the second scripture for us to ponder.
Genesis 50:20 (LSB) 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to do what has happened on this day, to keep many people alive.
Just as Joseph spoke these words to his brothers, I share them with you today, to bring understanding, clarity, and hope to you.
What man intends for evil, God will often use for His purpose, for GOOD.
And, yes, it can be hard to see sometimes. But if we allow the Holy Spirit to help us see past only what our minds can comprehend, we will begin to understand things in a new way; a way that brings us peace that we never knew we could have in situations like these.
So, we urge you to listen for God in the midst of the storm, the chaos, and the sometimes-overpowering waves of emotion that hit us when terrible things happen.
There, in the middle of that powerful storm, God will be whispering, beckoning us to draw near to Him and hear His voice.
And it is there that we find our solace.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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