I feel that in so many of the lessons the Lord has taught me over the past few years, this one thing has stood out to me…
When I think things are going “wrong” in my life, because I’ve surrendered wholeheartedly to Him, and because of His redemption, they’re actually going RIGHT.
It’s just a shift of perspective. No matter the scenario – what if we only think things are going wrong based on our shortsighted vision of what we thought “right” would be? What’s happened to you could definitely be the exact opposite of God’s will for your life, but when you know He is sovereign and loves you, you know that God may not have caused it, but He already saw it coming, and factored in His goodness and redemption FOR it, starting with His death on the cross.
“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
When we think our lives go wrong based on events that we had no control over, we are basically saying that God is only sovereign and good if He does what we originally wanted, and forgetting about His sovereignty and overly abundant goodness in the REDEMPTION of our wrecked plans.
We so easily forget that we serve a creative God Who is still creating beautiful things out of nothing!
It’s okay to feel disappointment, confusion, and frustration due to unmet expectations and unexpected detours you never asked for (small or big), and there is no condemnation in needing to process them all. But our God IS good, and He will truly make the wrong into right if we stay close to Him long enough to receive it. Hear Him say this to you today…
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.” – Joel 2:25-27
I can assure you that He wants to deal wondrously with you and remove the shame of your unmet expectations. He wants to show Himself in the midst of you and restore and bless you with more because of what was lost or taken away from you. You don’t lose as a child of God (in sickness, in death, in heartache). Despite what it looks like is being taken in the moment, because of His beautiful comfort and restoration, you only gain. 🙂
When you’re in the middle of it though, and it’s hard to see how any good can come, begin to speak His Word over your heart. Psalm 91 is a great place to start:
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely He will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with His feathers,
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because you love Me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue you;
I will protect you, for you acknowledge My name.
15 You will call on Me, and I will answer you;
I will be with you in trouble,
I will deliver you and honor you.
16 With long life I will satisfy you
and show you my salvation.”
Even if things do happen that take you by surprise, these verses are STILL the inheritance the Lord has left for those who love Him and acknowledge Him. He is STILL sovereign above you, He IS with you, and He IS protecting you. You will see one day His full redemption of the things you didn’t expect or want, but until then, you can know with confidence that His redemption will be better than your original plans.
He is making wrong into right.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
Amanda Rassamni Smith 