Love Works Everything Out - Martin Wiles

Series: Love Unchained

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT

“My house has been shot.”

The early morning text from my daughter was not how I wanted to begin my day of worship. I wanted details, and they came too slowly by text. But my daughter is a Millennial, and that’s how she communicates best.

Over the course of the next half hour, my wife and I pieced together what had happened. Our daughter lives in a less-than-desirable section of town. Since moving into her new house, several shootings have occurred either in her neighborhood or in the nearby apartment complex. This case was a drive-by and was aimed at one of our daughter’s neighbor’s children.

As the car sped by the young man who walked down the street, three shots rang out. He dropped and rolled, but one bullet struck my daughter’s house and two her neighbor’s house. Fortunately, no one in either house was harmed. The one bullet which pierced our daughter’s house plowed through wall after wall until it finally stopped in the back bedroom after having passed through our two grandsons’ bedrooms and their bathroom. Luckily, one of them slept on the couch, and the other slept in the bed with his mom.

The bullets that struck her neighbor’s house entered low and could have easily struck and killed anyone standing or sitting. The mom happened to be lying in bed. The bullet which entered our daughter’s house went in high near the roof, and continued that way as it made its path through the house.

As believers in God’s sovereignty, we believe God protected our daughter and grandchildren. Had it not turned out as it did, we would not have stopped believing in God’s sovereignty or love. Paul says God takes everything, good and bad, and works it all together for good in His children’s lives.

How God will use this for good in my daughter’s life remains to be seen. Perhaps she’ll move to a safer area. Maybe she’ll install a security system. Maybe she’ll draw closer to God or use this as an illustration of God’s protection when talking to someone going through a similar experience.

Whatever God does with the “bad” things in our lives, they’ll be good when He gets through with them. Our part is simply to trust and obey and to leave the consequences to Him.

Trust all events in your life to God, and watch what He does.

Prayer: Father, we give our lives—and everything in them—over to Your providential care.

Tweetable: Have you placed your safety in God's hands? 

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