Our Good God
We don’t like it when unpleasant circumstances intrude into our lives. Things are supposed to go according to plan. An adverse turn of events is not considered a good thing. But inevitably, things don’t always work out as expected. From significant matters to minor, life doesn’t always go our way. However, your perspective of those times is the important thing.
Our outlook during difficult situations has everything to do with our view of God. Those who see God as uncaring, selfish, vindictive, or, as one famous atheist put it, “megalomaniacal (obsessed with His power),” would see all adversities as unacceptable and cause for blame, retaliation, or restitution. Seeing the potential of good in bad times isn’t on their radar. Thankfully, we have plenty of examples to the contrary.
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas are arrested for their faith. They are beaten with rods, punched, and their feet locked into stocks. They had a choice of responses. It would have been understandable if they were upset and disappointed with God. But instead, think of what they had given up to let people know about Jesus. And this is the thanks they get? Then there was the physical pain. They would be perfectly justified in focusing on their injuries.
But Paul and Silas believed that God is good, regardless. Instead of being self-absorbed and focused on their misfortune, they sang hymns of praise. These disciples knew that the seeming lack of goodness in the situation did not change the goodness of God. Like Job, when his wife suggested he “Curse God and die!” amid the worst circumstances, they could say, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:9-10).
The responses of Paul and Silas in prison and Job despite his losses are just two examples of attitudes toward adversity in light of God’s goodness we see in scripture. In addition, there’s Joseph, Esther, Joshua, Rahab, Paul, James, and many more prophets, disciples, and church fathers who serve as examples to us.
William Cary is likely the most famous name in modern missions. He had set up a printing press and labored, printing his translation of the Bible and ministry materials. But all he had accomplished was lost when a fire destroyed the press and the other documents. Depression would not begin to describe his initial feeling.
That evening, the staff came together and recounted all God had done over the past 12 years. With 11 new churches planted, 20 evangelists sent, and the gospel going to the whole country, their efforts were far from lost. In addition, 350 children were being educated for free in their schools.
Within six months, they restored the printing press, and materials were once again being distributed. Thus, it is said that William Cary not only improved upon but duplicated his earlier accomplishments before he died.
They could have focused on their losses rather than on the goodness of God. Instead, the fire seemed to fuel the redoubling of their efforts. They likely produced much more fruit as a result. Can a destructive fire be a good thing? Only when you focus on the goodness of God and not the loss.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” —Romans 8:28