God Brings Good Out of What Feels Bad

By Rick Warren

We know from the Bible that God is always working in your life for good.

But the Bible also says we’ll hit some hard times too. That’s part of life. None of us can escape troubles. Jesus explained this in John 16:33: “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows” (NLT).

There are two ways you can deal with those trials: You can either let them break you, or you can trust that God will use them for something good. God will always leave the choice with you.

Your worst days can lead to your best opportunities for growth and ministry. God never wastes a hurt. He doesn’t want you to just trudge through it. He wants you to mature through it, and then use your experience to help others facing the same situation.

For instance, who can better help someone facing disease than someone else who’s already gone through the experience? Who can better help someone who’s losing a house than somebody who lost their home? Who can better help someone struggling with an addiction than another person who has the same struggle, but has learned to overcome it through God’s strength?

Most people can bring good out of good, but God can bring good out of bad. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:4, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (NLT).

Paul is describing redemptive suffering, where God uses your pain to help others. It’s what Jesus did. When Jesus died on the cross, he didn’t deserve to die. He went through that pain for your benefit so you could go to heaven.

I don’t know what you’re going through right now, but I am certain God can use it for good in your life and to open opportunities for you to help others. May this give you hope and encouragement to know he’s working for your good today!