Have you ever had something happen in your life that you simply did not understand and couldn’t see the good in it?
I have.
Last year we experienced a failed adoption that made no sense to me.
Why did it fail?
Why did we have to lose so much money?
Why couldn’t we have found out sooner, instead of finding out after we travelled across the US and spent several nights in a hotel?
I had so many questions, and, even a year later, couldn’t find the purpose in it.
I bought the faith stroller (and shared about it here on the blog), but it remained empty and even got a little banged up in the process.
I finally chalked it up to the idea that life is life. It rains on the just and unjust, right?
Yes, it does. But we also serve a God who said that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
So, where was the good in our failed adoption?
Last week, we wrapped up Battle Cry Tour 2021, and I finally found the good.
Over a year after our adoption fell through, I got the chance to stand in front of crowds of people and share our story. And not just share the hurt and disappointment, but share the song God gave to me and some friends in a writing session because He knew I would need a reminder that He was still a God who keeps His word.
Two weeks after we took our empty stroller back home, I released a song called Never Break A Promise.
I held onto the promise, but I still didn’t see the good in what we experienced until God asked me to tell our story and sing this song every night on tour.
He asked me to remind His people that even though we don’t understand, and we’re not holding our promise yet… He is STILL a promise keeper.
So, I did just that.
And I watched that story encourage both friends and strangers every night.
Friends who were thinking about giving up.
Women who were struggling with infertility.
People who needed a reminder of God’s faithfulness in the middle of a difficult season.
God used a story that I could see no good in to minister to others.
And I realized that I was watching the good unfold in front of me.
How many times have I sung lyrics like, “If You can use anything, Lord, You can use me”, or “I give myself away so You can use me”? More times than I can count!
And during the tour, I realized that sometimes this is what living out those lyrics looks like.
It’s being willing to experience something painful because you’ll be able to use it for the glory of God and to encourage others.
Does that make it easy?
No.
But it doesn’t change my desire to see God glorified in every area of my life, so I would say it's worth it.
If you’re walking through some things you don’t understand, or if you’ve experienced some things that just don’t make sense, I want to encourage you.
He really does work all things for good if we’ll let Him.
He can use your story, and your faithfulness, in spite of your circumstances, will always bring Him glory.
I finally found the good in what I simply could not understand.
And if you’ll look and let God know You want Him to get the glory in every part of your life, You will find the good too.
