“Lord, the one you love is sick.” “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 11:3b-4
Are you the recent recipient of bad news? Is it cancer, job termination, financial free fall, divorce, betrayal or an accident? Bad news can cause you to blame others, and remain mad at God. It solicits sadness and assumes the worse. Bad news can break your heart, flood your face with tears, and fill your heart with sorrow. It is a test of our trust and a revelation of whom we really believe is in control. Bad news can bring out our best.
Moreover, bad news is an invitation for God’s good news. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is our certainty when we are uncertain, our hope when we are hopeless, and our salvation when we are sinful. It is our stability when we are out of control, and our healing when we are hurting. The good news of God’s sovereignty supersedes the bad news of our sorrow and sickness. The Lord’s dominion determines our destiny.
Furthermore, the affliction of your family is for the glory of God. The diseased body of a believer is meant to point people toward their glorified body in glory. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21).
Lastly, the affection of Almighty God is an outcome of your adversity. His trustworthiness transcends your troubles. The love of the Lord longs for you in your lamentation. Circumstances that are brimming with bad news means you are a prime candidate for God’s glorification. Be a secure son or daughter of your Heavenly Father, so they can see God’s Son in your life and glorify Him. Are you using bad news to bring glory to God? “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him” (John 7:18, NASB).
Related Readings: Genesis 22:2; Mark 5:39-42; Philippians 2:26-27; 1 Peter 1:21
Transformational Living
How can I best reflect Christ in my life when I receive bad news?
Source: Seeking Daily the Heart of God Boyd Bailey
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My thoughts!
When I read this it reminded me of one of my favorite inspirational quotes: Calm seas do not make good sailors. It's taken me awhile to realize this, but I believe that adversity, good or bad, makes us all grow closer to Jesus and ultimately to GOD. Realizeing that I'm not in control and that I need a strong foundation "GOD" to make it through life!
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