²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

Okay, so we know that eventually God ‘s perfect will is going to be done, sure, but how can we believe that the events of the past three years were for our own good?

God is all-powerful. That should go without saying as an absolute requirement to be God. This means that everything we encounter in this life, good and bad, has been allowed by Him. He could have stopped the difficult and the painful, but He chose not to. Not because He doesn’t love us, but because He does.

So, what good is supposed to come out of the chaos and insanity of these times? It took a little effort, but one good lesson I learned is expressed in Psalm 40:

How blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord and does not seek help from the proud or from liars

Psalm 40:4

In all the national upheaval of pandemics and elections it is easy to get caught up in putting our faith in parties or people. The past three years have been a great example of that folly.

Struggles, hardships, and discipline are seldom enjoyable, but they are undeniably character building.

When our circumstances seem bad, we must look harder to find the good. Those times are when it is most important to cling to God’s promises.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
    your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
    give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
    your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
    don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
    a father’s delight is behind all this.

Proverbs 3:5-12 (MSG)