Ministry Resources

Destined to Redeem Your Past

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28

As a little girl, what was your favorite tale? Cinderella was mine. I’m guessing it was the beauty of her pale blue gown that enticed my eye, but I’d like to think her restoration was just as drawing. Her rags transformed to riches. Her ashes turned into the acclaim of her character. The wrongs that were done to her were righted and her woes were restored. I’d like to think that even at the young age of three my heart was inclined, in words I couldn’t utter, to the idea that God can overcome our adversity and afflictions for good.

Each of our pasts and paths look different, but through God’s power he offers us each a Cinderella story. And though we can’t mistake our vision of a dream castle for his intentions to advance his Kingdom, God will make all things work together for good.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Rom. 8:28).

God is working. He is writing a story to reveal himself through the hurts and hurdles of our lives.

Our pain has not been pointless. He will use it for a purpose. The whole sum of our prosperity and adversity is continually working together toward a good end in and through us. “The things themselves may not be good, but God harmonizes them together for believers’ ultimate good, because His goal is to bring them to perfection in His presence” (John F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary ).  He is actively conspiring to bring it all to a profitable end. We may not see it or understand it, but we can intuitively trust God to do this.

This verse promises that restoration for “those who love God and are called according to his purpose”.

This “love” is not naturally in us, but grows in us in faith. We see this love for God in our lives when we delight in his presence and his people. When a hunger for his Word, ways, and worship increases in our hearts and minds, God’s love is the spring and source of it.

When we “have been called according to his purpose,” we respond to the call of Christ in our lives. First, when we received his forgiveness and salvation; then, as we do life with God. When we allow him to co-author our lives, we can walk forward with confidence knowing that God will use it all for his good and glory.

When you become a daughter of God, you are granted forgiveness and given a function in the family of God. You get to partake in God’s grace and his glory as he harmonizes all the good and bad together for your gain. In his healing, you can find hope. In his power, you can find purpose. Like the story of Cinderella, God can use all your afflictions and all your adversity to achieve for you a glorious end.

Father, thank you for redeeming the wrong and using the right to bring about a good work in our life. Only you could use what Satan intended for evil to have impact for good. Use it all, Lord. Use our hurts and our hurdles to help us experience your presence and pursue your work in our lives. Love, Your Daughters

Visit ErinNicoleThompson.com for the Daughters Series videos and workbook.

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