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God can use all experiences and create good out of them
When my granddaughter died of SIDS at 7 months old, the last thing I could imagine asking God was how He would use this tragedy to display His glory. Instead, my questions centered around why this happened, why to us, and why now.
Five years later, I still struggle with the whys. And I’m still wondering how God could use that pain to fulfill His purposes. Although the piercing agony of losing my granddaughter has subsided, the underlying feeling of sadness of not having her with us remains.
But the Bible tells us that God can use all experiences and create good out of them.
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)
For example, we learn in Genesis that Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and later imprisoned. But God used his suffering to position him as a leader in Egypt, ultimately saving many lives during a famine. (Genesis 37, 39–50)
Moses spent years in exile after killing an Egyptian. God used this time to prepare him for the task of leading the Israelites out of slavery. (Exodus 2:11–15; 3:1–10)
David was pursued and persecuted by King Saul. God used his time in hiding to prepare him for future kingship. (1 Samuel 18–31)
Paul experienced a “thorn in the flesh” which caused him suffering. God used it to keep Paul humble and to demonstrate His grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:7–10)
Job lost his children, his possessions, and his health. His faithfulness to God through extreme suffering brought glory to God. (Job 1–42)
Paul and Silas were imprisoned. Their faith led to the conversion of the jailer and his family, bringing glory to God. (Acts 16:16–34)
A beggar was born blind. God used his healing to display His miraculous power.
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him (John 9:1–3, NIV)
Lazarus died. God used His power over death to raise him, leading many to believe in Him.
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:4, NIV)
God can and does use our pain, suffering, and even death as tools to reveal His glory, fulfill His purposes, and bring about growth. These events often led to a deeper faith and accomplishment of God’s plans.
Although I have yet to know what good may come out of the death of my granddaughter, I have faith that God is good, and He knows what He’s doing.
Want to dive deeper? You’ll find this story—and many more that reveal the beauty of our Triune God—in God the Father, the Son & Holy Spirit: Exploring Biblical Truths About the Triune God, available on Amazon.