students of jesus

If the key to our spiritual growth is recognizing God at work and responding with thanks (yesterday's post), does this mean we should thank God for every event, every action--even the evil actions so prevalent in the world today?

Some Christians equate every happening with a "cosmic plan," as if each event was ordained and inspired by God. Some Christians believe God's plan includes the death of children or the actions of wicked men. Their consolation in the face of the evil is to say that God's plan is beyond our understanding--that "everything happens for a reason."

But there is a huge difference between "everything happens for a reason" and "God brings reason out of everything that happens." The first is Christian superstition; the second reveals the greatness and glory of God. Your Heavenly Father is not the author of evil in your life, but he is the editor. What men mean for ill, God can use to build goodness into us. A thankful spirit flows not from the fatalistic acceptance of every event but from the conviction that God is with us. His presence and his actions can bring goodness and light where previously there was only wickedness and darkness.

Ask Yourself: Do I blindly accept each and every moment as the work of God, or do I look for the goodness of God at work in the things and events before me?

Live Into It: How we answer the question above becomes the measuring stick of our walk with God. God is not the author of evil or bad things in our life, but we can be sure he is present and active in all circumstances, causing everything to work together for good--even wickedness of others or just plain bad luck. Can you begin to thank him for what he will create out of each circumstance?