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There are millions of people around the world, who are waiting on news. I don’t mean the evening news given by a commentator. I mean news that will affect their personal life.
It might be the results of a health test.
It might be a report from their stockbroker.
It might be news from someone serving in a war zone.
It might be simply knowing what the boss wants to talk to them about in the morning.
I have had a year that has put me on high alert for bad news. While there have been times to celebrate good news, there have also been some notable unexpected bad news reports.
In an episode of Star Trek, a crew member told the android, Data, about an experience he described as “disastrous.” Data looked puzzled. He was obviously searching his data bank for the word, “disastrous.”
Not finding it, he finally said, “Oh, you mean unexpected. It was unexpected.”
That really cuts to the heart of the issue. We want to control the news and we want to be sure it is going to be good by our short term assessment of how “good” looks.
God does not work that way. He has the long term good in mind. And He is known for doing the unexpected.
He does not even see the need to explain Himself. He said plainly,
“For My Thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My Ways,”
declares The Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My Ways higher than your ways and My Thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
Paul, who had had his share of bad news, learned an important lesson about trusting God to give the news.
Paul said,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His Purpose.”
Romans 8:28
Note, Paul did not say all things would be good. He said, in essence, God can take what seems like bad stuff, messy stuff, unexpected stuff and somehow mix it all together with His Good. Bad news can become good news.
So, as I wait for some news later this week, I am trying to keep Paul’s lesson in mind. God is Good and He works all things together for good. I just need to trust Him.
Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.
Proverbs 3:5-6
