Letting Go
GENESIS 50:20
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
The patriarch Joseph spoke the words above after reuniting with his brothers, who had rejected him and sold him into slavery. Amazingly, Joseph didn’t allow bitter events or bitter people to keep him from fulfilling his destiny. Though he was mistreated again and again, he remained confident God used those painful experiences for his good—and for the good of those around him. I know it hurts when people turn against you. But like Joseph, you can let go of bitterness. God allowed those negative people and those negative circumstances to make you who you are today. Just as God had a plan for Joseph, He has a plan to use all of the ugly stuff in your life for good. Somewhere down the line, He will work through you to help someone else who has been hurt, abandoned, lied about, or broken… someone who is looking for hope.
View your pain theologically, not socially. Don’t just say, “That’s not fair.” Rather, say, “God, even though that’s not fair, I believe You are going to use it so I can fulfill my destiny. I trust You to use the bitter things in my life and use them for Your glory.” You may very well be right—it probably wasn’t fair. That terrible thing that happened to you that you had no control over—it’s not fair. But God is a master at turning unfair things into miracles when we let Him. Don’t block His work in your life by harboring bitterness, anger, and hate. Instead, tell Him that what happened wasn’t fair—and then tell Him you are going to let it go anyway. Then sit back and watch how He uses it for good. God is a just God. Let Him have it. He will bring about justice if you step out of the way and let Him. Trust Him with the deepest, most authentic faith you have. God can make the bitter things in your life better. He can make the good things great. He can cover the bad with His grace. The good, the bad, and the bitter can all come together to lead you to your destiny.
Lord, You know I don’t like painful things in my life. I don’t like the ways I have been hurt. But I know You can use them for good if I will let go of bitterness and resentment and trust You instead.
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