God is always working things out for your good and His glory

Six years ago I was going through one of the deepest valleys of my life, questioning my beliefs and on a path towards deconstruction. 

I doubted that God was good.

Unbeknownst to me, my wife had been talking with some friends and family, and arranged for me to see an older man, who had counseled missionaries for most of his career. 

My wife drove me to see Brother Tom even though I was highly skeptical that he could do anything to fix my depression. But over the next few weeks what transpired was nothing short of miraculous. In a gentle way, only possible of a person has been through some things themselves, Brother Tom listened and asked questions about my journey. 

The fundamental lie that he began to poke at was my belief about God— did I actually believe that he was good? My answer at the time was no, or a solid "I don't know," at best.

Over these crucial weeks of inner work, of being heard, and dredging up these buried pains, my perspective began to shift. 

During every meeting, brother Tom would remind me that "God is always working things out for our good and his glory— and never one without the other."

A winding path through dark forest leading to sunlight (AI Image: The Ancient Way)

I eventually began to believe these words myself, and it's radically changed how I view the Lord. He is a good father who is always working out exactly what we need. We may not always like the circumstances we find ourselves in or see the way He's working, but I know now that he is always good. 

In this week’s Torah portion, I was reminded again of God’s faithfulness. The Israelites had doubted God’s goodness. They rebelled against His provision and instructions and as a result ended up in the desert. Yet at the end of their journey, Moses recounts the goodness of God:

For Hashem your God, has blessed you in all your handiwork; he knew your way in this great wilderness; this 40-year period Hashem, your God, was with you; you did not lack a thing. 
—Deuteronomy 2:7

Even in the 40 years of wilderness wandering, God was with the children of Israel. Despite their own actions that resulted in a delay of God’s promise, God still provided for every one of their needs. He fed them, clothed them, protected them. 

At synagogue today, we read another story from Yeshua in Matthew 7:9–11:

“For what man among you, when his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or when he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

Our Father and King wants us to seek him alone for our needs, no matter what we’re going through. How much more will he give us good things if we trust Him enough to ask.

Whether you’re on the highest mountaintop or in the darkest valley, may the words of these stories take root in your heart. With tenacious faith, may you begin to cling to the fact that you have a good Father who is always working things out for your good and His glory. 

Whether it takes 4 years or 40 years to see His promises fulfilled, may our Father continue to reveal the lovingkindness of His character to you and may we become a people who trust Him wholeheartedly.

• How does this land with you?

• Do you believe that God is ultimately good? 

• How have you seen him show up in your life?  

Let me know in the comments below!