ALL THINGS
Romans 8:28
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
25 years or so ago I purchased a single shot handgun which I bought just for hunting, not for target shooting, plinking or another reason but Hunting. The year that I received the firearm I was blessed to be invited on a hunt in Colorado for mountain lion in an area where there was a problem with lions killing wildlife... but also livestock. That same year I drew a bear tag. I was successful in harvesting both animals with the handgun.
Later that fall I decided I would only hunt with that gun as I wanted to take a good buck as well. A few days after season opened I climbed into a deer stand in the early afternoon. Very soon after getting into the woods, a very nice buck walk right in front of me and began feeding. It was a perfect scenario. As I settled the scopes crosshairs on the buck I remembered a good friend was bringing his son the next day. This young man had never taken a buck and while the chances of that buck returning two days in a row, especially in the daylight... but I decided to take the chance and I passed the buck up.
The next day the friend and his son arrived and went hunting. A short time later I heard the shot and went to check. There on the ground was the same big buck I had passed on the day before. Sitting next to the buck was a very happy young hunter. I never did take a buck with that handgun.
There was no assurance that the plan is made would have worked out the way it did... but God had a plan either way. I let the buck go knowing that whether he showed up again, or didn't, God did have a plan and would work out just fine.
The verse above is a great reminder that God orchestrates ALL things for good for those who love and follow Him. Think about that for a moment. ALL things. Not just the good things but ALL things. The trials, the struggles, the mistakes, the failures...ALL THINGS! If we love and follow Jesus, He also reminds us in Hebrews 13:5 and Deuteronomy 3:18 that He will never leave us. In fact He goes before us. How comforting is that. We have a God who loves us so much that He promises all these things. Even when things are hard, He will turn it to good and while we are going thru the good times, hard times, failures, He has gone before us and walks with us thru this. All because He loves you.
Joni Lakes and Dean Hulce
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