“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.” – Romans 8:28 NIV
Have you ever stumbled into a blessing? Or mistakenly arrive at a path you are now sure you should have been on from the start? Or coincidentally, have you met someone who is now one of the most important people in your life? Or even gone through some turmoil, only to arrive at the other end unscathed and packed with new lessons for life?
Some call it serendipity – finding something good when you aren’t searching for it. Others blame it on fate. But God’s ways are not the ways of men (Isaiah 55: 8).
As a believer, you should understand that the Almighty God cannot be put in a box. As we have been learning throughout this week, He leads through diverse ways, primarily through His Word, but also through dreams, inner witness and other believers. But he also leads through coincidences and occurrences that we would describe as strange or weird. Sometimes, God uses such moments in our lives to lead us into His grand scheme and plan for our lives.
In Genesis 22:1-2, Abraham was tested with his son, Isaac. God had instructed him to go to the mountain to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Don’t forget that God had already spoken to Abraham that he would be the father of nations and that this promise would be fulfilled through Isaac (Genesis 21:12). Yet, God asked Abraham to sacrifice the child.
Essentially, God used Abraham’s sacrifice to symbolise His redemptive plan fulfilled in Christ Jesus. By instructing Abraham to sacrifice his son, God foreshadowed Christ’s sacrifice for humanity (John 3:16, Heb 11:17-19). Despite the trial, Abraham trusted God, believing that even if he sacrificed Isaac, God would fulfil His promise through him.
Another example from scripture is the life of Joseph. He had dreams about his life, future and what God would have him be, but God did not lead Joseph conventionally to this promise (Genesis 37:5-11, 28; 39:19-21). He went through situations that would typically not lead him to the palace, but they eventually turned out to be the stepping stones to God’s plan and purpose for his life.
Both characters trusted God completely. When life gets tough or unclear, trust that God is guiding you and working for your good. He promises never to leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Trust in Him, for He never fails, and with God, there are no coincidences, just His perfect leading at work.
SAY THIS: God is good and is at work in my life. All things work together for my good because God is actively working in my life. Even though I don’t understand it, I’ll forever trust God’s process.
Bible Reading Plan: Luke 22: 1-34