Positive from Negative

Every so often in our walk something truly catastrophic happens. The Enemy of our soul gets a shot in and on target and we are left reeling and wounded in a huge way.

It's happened several times in my life.

Each time, however, life goes on.

My younger brother was killed in a road accident, my favourite aunt died in a house fire, cancers in the family, more and more things went wrong.

Each of these incidents had the potential to destroy my life. And they nearly did.

Thankfully, God is here.

These incidents have all been redeemed. Jesus used Robin's death to reveal His amazing Love for me to me. My dad's first cancer shook me, but eventually drew us closer to each other and to God. His second cancer, which took his life in 1999, led us into a level of closeness and relationship we'd never experienced before, although we had a very close relationship. I was able to hold his hand as he went home, and I believe he could have been healed but chose to rather go as he knew our Lord was with me.

The issues we face are not sent from God to test us. He loves us unconditionally. He redeems us perfectly. He gives us only good gifts.

Cancer is not good.

Death is not good.

No illness is good.


God gives us only that which is good, perfect and pleasing. If it's not all of those things, God didn't send it.

BUT...

He can and wants to redeem it.

 "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20a) That doesn't mean God sent it - I'm certain when God showed Joseph his future He didn't intend for him to be sold as a slave and imprisoned on false charges for years before it came to pass. Joseph's brothers were motivated by jealousy and greed. They were filled with anger and acted on it.

But God redeemed their actions and saved thousands through Joseph despite their hate.

No matter how negative the situation you're facing God can redeem it, and wants to. He has a perfect plan for our lives, one with a hope and a future. He wants us to live in an abundant life. Jesus Himself said "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)" (John 10:10 Amplified)

So basically, if you are going through hell right now, God wants to redeem it. If you went through hell recently, God wants to redeem it. God will guide us through the valley of the shadow of death, not help us set up home in it. He leads us through the darkness in this world into life and light.

Life is short. It has hard knocks in it. We all miss what God is saying to us from time to time and then we have consequences we must deal with. But God wants to redeem them and make us live better, setting up a table for us in the very face of the enemy who tried to destroy us.

Hold fast to the Cross. Anchor to the Rock of Christ and never let Him go. No matter how bad the situation looks now, God wants to redeem it.