About 10 years ago, my mom and I were searching for my first “grownup” apartment in a city where I’d never been, except for the one interview for the job that was bringing me to that small, Oklahoma town.
We found some duplexes that we wanted to look at, but couldn’t figure out who owned them so we asked a man cutting the grass across the street. Turns out, that was the owner himself and he was mowing the lawn of another one of his nearby properties. I loved the duplex and ended up renting there for the 18 months I lived in that town.
When I was relating the story to the rest of my family, I made the comment that finding the property owner in that manner was a “God thing.”
The question my brother asked next stopped me cold.
At the time it struck me as the younger brother just trying to be a pain but deep down it bothered me because I knew he was right. I don’t remember the words verbatim, but essentially my brother asked me, “So, it was a God thing because it was good? What if it hadn’t happened that way, does that mean God wasn’t at work?”
We as believers are guilty of this all the time. Sure, it probably seems harmless and even a good thing to attribute all the good things in life to God working in our lives. But God has proven both in the Bible and in modern times that he works in our lives through both the good times and the bad. In fact, it could probably be argued that his power becomes even more evident through the rough times.
The entire story of Job shows us that God brings both good times and bad. In Job chapter 2, Jesus pretty much hands Job over to Satan with the only ground rule of “don’t kill the guy.”
Job was afflicted with sores all over his body that were so bad Job had to use a piece of broken pottery to scratch himself as he sat among the ashes. His wife encouraged him to curse God so he would be allowed to die.
Job 2:10 tells Job’s response:
“He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.”
Those who know the story of Job know it ended well. Job had every possible bad thing happen to him but he never stopped exalting God’s glory or acknowledging God’s hand in his life.
He’s not alone. Go through your Bible and a common theme is not that those who follow God’s will are trouble free. In fact, quite the opposite. But another common theme is that God uses those troubles for his glory and for the betterment of his followers—if and when God is given the chance. In Romans 8:28, he promises to do just that.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
That’s the better known verse, but I also think the two verses before that are important.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
Although it’s rarely used in this way, I think this concept could also be applied to another popular verse, Jeremiah 29:11. We all know it, it’s even printed on key chains, posters and other memorabilia:
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
It seems that if God knows the plans he has for us, this means he has all things planned, not just the good or the things that make us happy. The verses that follow seem to support this idea and they give guidelines for what needs to happen: we are to seek him in times of trouble and he will bring us out of the dark places where he placed us.
“’Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.’”
So how about it? Next time we have a positive or happy moment in our lives, we should of course thank God for it. But when things go wrong? It seems we are being directed to do the same basic thing: seek God’s guidance, and continue to give him glory and thanks for what he brings to our lives.
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12 Responses to “When is it a ‘God thing?’”
Thanx for sharing and I do agree what you`ve said about thanking God for the good things. But how do we manage when things go otherwise.
Esmeralda,
It's certainly tough to do that isn't it? I think more of what I'm trying to say is that yes, we should be thankful, but more so just realize that the bad things are of God too. God has a purpose for allowing/bringing those things to our lives. God has his hand in all parts of our life and just knowing that makes the rough times seem more manageable. What I'm TRYING to do now that I have this understanding, is when bad or frustrating times come, ask God, "OK, so what's up? What do you want me to learn? This is of you, God, so please guide me."
Actually satan is the one who did all the "bad stuff" to Job. God said to satan, "He is in YOUR [satans] power." (Job 2:6) Job's perspective was that God did it, but He was mistaken. The author of Job, the Holy Spirit, doesn't really highlight Job's incorrect theology. Job's character is what the Holy Spirit highlights. God doesn't cause bad things. He allows them so that He can demonstrate His infinite kindness through difficulty. God didn't do the "bad stuff." He did, however, give Job more than He had before.
Jordan, as I said in the original post, Jesus gave Satan the go ahead to mess with Job as long as he didn't kill him, etc.
I'm not sure I necessarily agree that God doesn't cause bad things in our lives, at least what we would consider bad. (Tests of faith can be a good thing, they are just tough) I'm not saying that I think he does, I'm just saying I've not really thought about it that far. To me, allowing bad stuff and causing bad stuff has the same effect…it still gives God the chance to teach us and draw him closer to him…if we let him. Whether he causes it or just allows it, God is still in it. So if he's still involved to me that makes it still a "God thing" so to speak.
I see your point. Sorry for missing that detail. I also realize that what we think of as "bad" may not be bad at all looking from the outside in. When we are IN trials, getting that perspective [God's perspective] can be a challenge. I rest in knowing that He is infinitely good no matter what the trial.
I think allowing and causing have the same effect [because of God's sovereignty], but one contradicts Gods nature.
That being said, I apologize if you felt attacked, that wasn't my intention. I got fired over wording rather than your main point. I heartily agree that we should rejoice in all things and know that God is good, gracious, and powerful, and thank Him in every trial knowing that He will make us stronger, bring us closer to Himself, and display His glory. Thank you for sharing your heart and being an encouragement.
Jordan, thanks for the follow up. I've got a fairly thick skin, I just become concerned that somehow I've not been communicating my feelings/beliefs properly. I can see somewhat where you got the concerns that you have, and that was not my intent. I was so focused on the main point I didn't catch the wording. Thanks for the dialogue
When "bad things" happen, God is, at most, responsible for allowing it, but He is so big, so good, so gracious, and so powerful that when He turns it around, He makes it look as if He did the "bad stuff" when, in fact, He only allowed it – to make you victorious and demonstrate His goodness.
Now when we find ourselves in difficulty, rather than saying God did it, we can think of the Israelites when they were set free from Egypt. God did not lead them through the way of the Philistines for He knew they would turn back. (Exodus 13:17) He sent them through the Wilderness of the Red Sea. God is able to do anything, but He also knows our frame and our ability to yield to the mind games of satan. (I call them mind games because satan has no power. All authority belongs to Jesus.) My point is that God will only allow a trial if He intends to demonstrate His power and goodness through it. So we can rest in knowing He is good and He sees the end result and it is good. God is good!!! I love that sentence.
Trials are opportunities for the beauty of God to be seen. I realize that His ways are higher than ours [in terms of how one defines 'good'] (Isaiah 55:9), but there are some thins we know are evil, like illness and sin [These two are spoken of as equals in Psalm 103:3]. Here's a question that demonstrates my point: If God "gives" people cancer, then why did Jesus, who is the perfect reflection of the nature of God (John 14:9), heal everyone [in scripture] who came to Him? What is seen in scripture is different from our experience so scripture is the real truth here. God's nature is to heal. (Psalm 103:3) I am no "properity gospel" believer, but there is an experience in scripture that contradicts our current experience in many cases. I'm sticking to what I see in scripture. Suffering is a part of the belivers life. It brings fruit, blessing, and victory in Jesus, but there is nothing in scripture that equates this suffering with sickness, quite to the contrary.
God is willing that none should perish but all come to repentance (2 Peter 2:9). Some perish and never come to repentance. This tells me that some things that happen are not in God's will, and some things that don't happen are God's will. I'm perfectly satisfied in knowing He's good in everything and He's so big that He'll cause everything demonstrate His goodness even if it wasn't His will (Romans 8:28). While I really like reformed theology [It emphasizes God's biggness and our inability to get to Him], this is why I don't call myself a Calvinist…yet.
*2 Peter 3:9*
This is a great discussion all! Excellent post Ginger!