“Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done in earth. “
– Robert Law
I was reminded of this fantastic quote by a dear friend of ours and a sister in Christ who understands her relationship with Him better than just about anyone else I know. She was bemoaning the difficulty of teaching others to ask God not for good times or other earthly blessings, but rather to be conformed to God’s image. Burdened by the prayers of others that imply that Jesus is our butler, she instructs that we should seek to be like Christ regardless of whatever situation we are in, “good” or “bad”.
How few of us understand how temporary our focus and how meaningless we make our lives when we pray for “good” days or for things to go “well”. Should we not be praying for a heart like God’s, for His Holy Spirit to indwell us and to take charge of us?
To turn our eyes from our temporary comforts or the loss thereof, to seek God’s presence enables us to do what I call redeeming evil. It is not unusual for God to take miserable evils that come our way and twist them for ultimate good. I have often wondered how committed followers of Christ who have gone through terrible trials have been known to say and do confounding things. Joni Eareckson Tada, having become a quadriplegic from a diving accident, states, “My weakness, that is, my quadriplegia, is my greatest asset because it forces me into the arms of Christ every single morning when I get up.” Steve Saint, whose father he loved dearly was murdered by the Waodani in Ecuador, forgave the perpetrators, loved them, and essentially became a part of their family. Many Waodani now follow Christ. Surely these individuals and many more have found in Christ something that many of us have not. Joseph understood this concept. After having been sold as a slave by his own brothers, falsely accused and punished, and left and forgotten by those he helped, he recognized that God’s hand was present even amid pernicious wickedness:
“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.” – Genesis 50:20 (NASB)
The ultimate redemption of evil is Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Through His death, Christ restores us so that we can begin to paint an accurate picture of God once again. Surely the secret such individuals have learned is that the joy of knowing God intimately far outweighs all difficulties in this life. It is His own redeeming work through us. Will you allow God to do the same sort of work in your life? Submit to His authority, even amid suffering, rather than seeking the first exit to Utopian Comfortville. Looking to Him, seek opportunities to twist your suffering for God’s glory.
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