“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord.”

Romans 8:28 ( NAS )

As time goes by I have learned that God doesn't say that all things are good in our life, but that all things can work together for good. Over the past three years many things have come into my life that certainly were not good, but God has been able to use each situation to bring about good. He has revealed Himself in the big and little things, and used each to bring me closer to Him. He has taught me to look beyond the immediate to the eternal.

Perhaps this is best illustrated by a story that the Chinese tell about a man who had a horse and an only son. One day the horse broke out of the corral and fled to the hills. “What bad luck!” exclaimed the neighbors. “Why?” said the old farmer. “How do you know that?” The next night the horse was back for his usual watering and feeding, and with him were 12 wild stallions. Quickly the son slipped out and closed the gate. Now they had 13 horses instead of none. When the neighbors learned of this, they came to the farmer excitedly, “My, what good luck!” Calmly the old man replied, “How do you know that?” Some days later when his son was trying to break one of the wild stallions, he was thrown off and broke his leg. Quickly the neighbors returned saying, “What bad luck?” Again the wise farmer answered, “How do you know that?” A few days afterward a warlord came through the town and conscripted every able-bodied young man, taking them off to war. These men never returned. But the farmer's son remained at home because he had a broken leg.

As Christians we must look for the good purpose in every trial. The disciples were discouraged and dis-heartened on Good Friday because they couldn't see Easter morning. Through our tears we can believe that while we may not understand at the time, God only allows things to happen to us that are working for our own good.

During this Lenten season, welcome God's work in your life in the seemingly good and difficult things. Some-times it is only through difficulty that God can work His plan in our life.

Remember : God-sent clouds are followed by Heaven-sent rainbows. Let His light shine in and through you this Lenten season.

SAUNDRA LEWIS