Our Bad Used for God’s Good

This week our Devotional team tackles this all-too-common challenge called, “Restoration!” Meditate on this scripture and may this devotional minister to you.

Well, Saints, in order for restoration to occur there must be a time of separation or an interruption in a union. Many verses in Scripture give great testimony to restoration, such as, I Samuel 30:18, David recovered it all; Acts 9:18, Immediately scales fell from Paul’s eyes, and he received his sight again. Our definition of what is good may have to be adjusted. Because what we may refer to as bad experiences can lead to not just good, but best life outcomes. One of our favorite go-to verses is so true! Romans 8:28, “All things work together for the good to them that love the Lord and who are called to His purpose.” Many times, our own situations and situations of others around us, are used to grow our faith.

I saw it with my own eyes the day my oldest paternal cousin returned to the faith. She had backslid and walked away from the church and all that was godly; however, one afternoon church service at my former church, she decided to say yes to the Spirit’s leading and she professed Jesus as Lord of her life again. I remember she sang, “I’m Saved”, a song she used to lead on the choir. It was a moving moment especially for my family! I, as a young woman, marveled at her courage to stand and give report of the ways she failed and sinned against God, our Father in Heaven. It was her very testimony (& everything she had gone through) that led her to her commitment, ministry, and legacy, “Lifebuilder’s Auxillary.” In this organization, the Lord used her to help many gain a better quality of living and well-being. She was active in sharing the gospel on a weekly basis with those who were slaves to drugs and the streets. She even helped to coordinate the relocation of a gang member who came to Christ and needed to get away from Baltimore.

True restoration, in the faith especially, is a joyous event. It can be invigorating to watch Jesus change our mind to what was first thought to be bad into a strategy that would further the kingdom. Absolutely exhilarating to watch the eternal purposes of our Lord come to fruition in the land of the living. A humbling thought that our Lord continues to use the weaknesses of mere men in His plan for righteousness, and restoration for this dark world. Testimonies in our local assembly are observed and carry great weight for encouragement of the saints and the furtherance of the gospel.

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for the ways You restore us; the ways You allow us to see, know, and understand You through the situations with what You entrust to us. We know that there is no situation greater than You; and that You are all powerful; able to keep us from falling that we may stand faultless before Your great throne only because of Jesus, our Savior and King. In His Name, we pray-Amen!
By Sis. Lisa Williams