This morning I had one of those rare (but always welcomed) moments of hearing from God almost audibly. I heard:
"God wastes nothing."
I ruminated on that for a while and decided that if it is true, it also means that God redeems everything.
There is no loss, sin, hurt, disappointment, mistake, relationship, degree, or pursuit that He cannot use for Kingdom purposes - to draw His children closer to Him and bring glory to Himself.
It's important for us to realize that He does not want everything to happen the way it does on Earth, but that doesn't mean that He cannot somehow use all of it. No ugliness down here is too far gone.
My friend Lanise, who I respect very much, works in pediatric hospice care. Another friend's husband is a pediatric oncologist. The fact that these two occupations even exist makes me want to cry, and while I cannot read the mind of God, I imagine that it saddens Him as well. He doesn't desire for any of His children to develop terminal illnesses, but that does not mean that he cannot somehow use it to bring Himself glory.
Knowing Lanise and Dr. Cash, I'm confident that they pour blessings on each child and family that they encounter. The Spirit of God lives in both of them, so how could they not?! They sow seeds of kindness and compassion with their patients and families, and God can take even the smallest seed and produce massive fruit. Who knows - one of Lanise's patients might have a sister who is so moved by Lanise's heart and character that she not only comes to know Jesus, but also is inspired to open her own hospice clinic one day and minister to thousands. That's an oversimplified example, but the truth is - God can redeem hard things in ways even greater than I can even dream of as I write!
Like not desiring illness, He also doesn't want any of us to sin. However, in His goodness, He uses our fleshly struggles. He uses them to remind us of His amazing grace and also to develop our character. You cannot develop self control without developing perseverance first, for example. We all know that the tough times are when we have to bear down and press in to Him, and time communing with Him is always a good thing.
This redemption plays out in mentor and friend relationships also. How many times has someone shared a struggle with you that was also a part of your past, meaning that you are filled with empathy and equipped to respond in a way that's helpful? It's God who makes those connections and puts us in relationships where our stories can be used to strengthen and teach others. Redemption.
Of course the greatest example of God redeeming the ugly things on Earth is the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God did not want for His children to kill His only son, but through that one death, we were all granted eternal access to Him. Wow. Talk about wasting nothing and redeeming everything.
Whatever that uncomfortable thing is in the back of your mind - the one that makes the lump form in your throat and the shame creep in to your heart when the thought surfaces - trust that His plans to redeem it are big. Let's believe that together and ask that His Kingdom come to Earth!
"God wastes nothing."
I ruminated on that for a while and decided that if it is true, it also means that God redeems everything.
There is no loss, sin, hurt, disappointment, mistake, relationship, degree, or pursuit that He cannot use for Kingdom purposes - to draw His children closer to Him and bring glory to Himself.
It's important for us to realize that He does not want everything to happen the way it does on Earth, but that doesn't mean that He cannot somehow use all of it. No ugliness down here is too far gone.
My friend Lanise, who I respect very much, works in pediatric hospice care. Another friend's husband is a pediatric oncologist. The fact that these two occupations even exist makes me want to cry, and while I cannot read the mind of God, I imagine that it saddens Him as well. He doesn't desire for any of His children to develop terminal illnesses, but that does not mean that he cannot somehow use it to bring Himself glory.
Knowing Lanise and Dr. Cash, I'm confident that they pour blessings on each child and family that they encounter. The Spirit of God lives in both of them, so how could they not?! They sow seeds of kindness and compassion with their patients and families, and God can take even the smallest seed and produce massive fruit. Who knows - one of Lanise's patients might have a sister who is so moved by Lanise's heart and character that she not only comes to know Jesus, but also is inspired to open her own hospice clinic one day and minister to thousands. That's an oversimplified example, but the truth is - God can redeem hard things in ways even greater than I can even dream of as I write!
Like not desiring illness, He also doesn't want any of us to sin. However, in His goodness, He uses our fleshly struggles. He uses them to remind us of His amazing grace and also to develop our character. You cannot develop self control without developing perseverance first, for example. We all know that the tough times are when we have to bear down and press in to Him, and time communing with Him is always a good thing.
This redemption plays out in mentor and friend relationships also. How many times has someone shared a struggle with you that was also a part of your past, meaning that you are filled with empathy and equipped to respond in a way that's helpful? It's God who makes those connections and puts us in relationships where our stories can be used to strengthen and teach others. Redemption.
Of course the greatest example of God redeeming the ugly things on Earth is the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God did not want for His children to kill His only son, but through that one death, we were all granted eternal access to Him. Wow. Talk about wasting nothing and redeeming everything.
Whatever that uncomfortable thing is in the back of your mind - the one that makes the lump form in your throat and the shame creep in to your heart when the thought surfaces - trust that His plans to redeem it are big. Let's believe that together and ask that His Kingdom come to Earth!
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