Have you ever wondered how God could work all things together for good in your life? Maybe you’re in a situation that feels impossible, a marriage that is unraveling, a job environment that is unhealthy and all you can see is HARD.
In my Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion today, I share how I wrestled with this in the midst of very difficult circumstances during and after our daughter’s adoption, and the ways God showed me HOW He was working things for “good” in unexpected ways.
If you hopped over from my devotion, I’m so glad you stopped by! As promised, here are a few photos that tell part of the story of us bringing our beautiful girl home. {And there’s special giveaway at the end of this post.}
All I could see were the hard parts. Everything we would have to give up: sleep, money, comfort, familiarity, others’ approval. All the hard things we would have to navigate: huge expenses and significant changes.
What if our sons resented us for re-arranging their lives forever? What if our parents and extended family didn’t approve? What if we exhausted our time, emotions and money only to end up with broken hearts and an empty bank account? How could God work all that together for good?
I could not see how. I could only see “hard.” Yet we knew God was calling our family to adopt a severely malnourished baby girl from Ethiopia. And in October 2009 we brought Aster home.
Was it hard? Yes. Even more than I imagined.
But as I trace God’s hand over the past five years since we brought Aster home, I see Him working countless things {together} for good. Most of all, I see a handwritten love letter sent to our little girl from her Heavenly Father, written on every page of our adoption story.
I see God working the hard things together for good. Despite our inadequacy, sadness and fear of the unknown when Aster was diagnosed with a speech disorder, global developmental delays, low muscle tone and sensory processing disorder, I now see God working it all for good.
I see God working the overwhelming things together for good. A year of sleepless nights brought out servant-hearted compassion in our teenage sons when they saw their dad struggling with depression caused by sleep-deprivation. I’ll never forget the night they decided to take turns sleeping on a mattress in their sister’s room to relieve her anxiety and give us back our desperately needed sleep.
I see God working even the embarrassing things together for good. Like the day I had a meltdown in my car and a stranger tapped on my window to see if I was okay. And that same afternoon, I ran out of gas on my way to get my youngest son at basketball which mean my oldest son, who had a new cast on his broken foot, had to push our car off the road. I see awesome stories for them to tell their children about me one day.
When my reality doesn’t look or feel like “good” to me, I ask God to help me see how. How he is keeping his promise that “in all things [He] works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Roman 8:28).
What I’ve discovered is this: God is always working things together for good, but not just for our good. Sometimes we are part of His working things together for someone else’s good.
You see, I believe Jesus heard a mother in Africa praying for her baby. A mother who was living in the middle of “hard” like I’d never imagined. A mother who couldn’t see how she could give her little girl the nurture and nutrition she needed.
Hagere: Aster’s birth-mother feeding her during our visit.
And when God heard that mama’s prayers, He tapped on the heart of a family in North Carolina who loved Him and were called according to His purpose. I also believe God saw an orphanage in Ethiopia searching for a forever family to provide unconditional love and medical care for a 6-month old, 8 pound baby with pneumonia.
So Jesus went back to that family in North Carolina who had been asking God to reveal Himself to them and through them, knowing this little girl would be an answer to that prayer.
And that’s when God started working the hard, impossible, and overwhelming things {together} for good.
Is there a relationship or situation in your life where all you see is hard? Have you asked God how He can work some part of it together for good?
I don’t know about you, but some days I need a tangible reminder that He can. A visual that prompts me to pray and helps me remember how He does, like the beautiful bead necklace I’m wearing below made from repurposed bullets found in the rubble of Ethiopian soil.
Each time I look at it, I remember how God answered a desperate mother’s prayers for her baby and filled my family’s longing to experience more of Him. Only He could know how much we needed the gift of a little girl to light up our world, and to remind us that He indeed can work even the hardest things {together} for good.
ENTER TO WIN To celebrate how Jesus takes the hard and heart-breaking realities of life and works them together for good, Proverbs 31 Ministries is partnering with Fashion & Compassion to create a beautiful jewelry line from repurposed bullets found in the rubble of Ethiopian soil. “SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS” under this post and you’ll be entered to win.
The From Bullets to Blessings Collection is handcrafted from Ethiopian bullets, dug out of rubble, and assembled by vulnerable and rescued women throughout Mexico and Charlotte, NC. CLICK HERE to find out more about the collection and the women who create these pieces. It’s a beautiful picture of God working the hard things together for good in their lives through Fashion & Compassion.
What a beautiful example of how God works in our lives. Often we don’t see the big picture, for our eyes are focused inwards instead of towards heaven. Thank you for sharing and reminding us of his greatness.
thanks so much for sharing this….it has brightened my day and made me see lifes situations and circumstances in another light.
keep on keeping on, God bless you and your lovely family. i pray Gods amazing grace and heart of love poured on you all
Thanks so much for sharing! I needed that! We get so stuck on the hard and don’t look for the beautiful that God is making out of it!
Renee,
What a beautiful story of God’s grace and mercy! Thank you for sharing your story. What an encouragement to me and many others (I’m sure!) It is wonderful that you can look back at those hard days and see our amazing God working in your family and in the lives of others. You have all chosen to focus on God’s goodness. I have been challenged to do the same.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am so encouraged by seeing God’s hand in each part of it. My family is in a hard place right now, but He daily gives me what I need to be the mom and wife He called me to be. Thankful!!
Thank you for sharing your story…opened my eyes, again, to Gods purpose.
Thank you so much for your beautiful story of adoption. It is a wonderful encouragement to me today. It helps me to see more clearly the big picture for my adopted son…to see the “love letter” that God has written for him. Our son turns 18 in December, and we are seeing some things come together for him that we know are from God. Reading your story, helps me to look back at his journey that has brought him to this place and time and KNOW that God is working all the HARD things out for him for his good purpose….and it is a beautiful thing to see. Thank you for the reminder!
Beautiful story. Beautiful reminder. Thank you and God bless your family.
I love adoption stories. We have our own story and while it is unlike yours, the theme is the same. Love and redemption….and grace! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your story because im reminded that we serve a might and faithful God. All I see is hard when I had to pick up and move to be with and help my daughter and her fight with alcoholism. As I see breakthrough I am so thankful that I trust in a God who knows what he is doing.
Renee,
Thank you for not only sharing your family’s journey, but your heart and reminding us that God is there in the hard, the overwhelming, and the embarrassing, As a mom that’s experienced all of those because of a daughter with a serious chronic illness and another that suffers from depression, I can look back at our journey, see how He placed each jagged and odd shaped piece perfectly into the puzzle of our lives where we can see His blessings.
Beautiful story! Aster I’m sure is growing in the right direction because of you and your family. Your story is a reminder that God works ALL things for His purpose and we need to remember that when hard things or stress comes our way that it is part of His grand plan. God bless you and your family. Happy Thanksgiving too!
All I can say is so precious and very encouraging. Blessings from our family to yours 🙂
Enjoyed reading this encouraging post. Beautiful daughter and family.
What a beautiful story of how our God sees the WHOLE picture, while we just look through a pin-hole sized looking glass.
When you said “God is always working things together for good, but not just for our good. Sometimes we are part of His working things together for someone else’s good”, I gained a greater understanding of why I may go through hardships. I thank God through your words!
Thank you for sharing – the part about how we may be part of someone else’s good was a powerful reminder to not always focus on things working out best for me.
Thank you so much for this devotional! I can so relate to your family’s journey. Sixteen years ago my husband and I heard God’s call to adopt a child from Russia. My beautiful son is now 17 and has autism. Our journey has also been harder than we ever imagined but a billion times more rewarding too. Our son has been a precious gift to us who continues to amaze us and touches the hearts everywhere he goes.
God, in His infinite wisdom & timing brought your message, Renee, to my inbox. I am in the midst of taking care of my 85 year old ailing Mother. Most days all I can see is the HARD. Now I am encouraged to look for how God is working this out for the GOOD. Thank you so much for sharing your journey.
Such a beautiful story! Thank you for your encouragement. I have been seeing only the “hard” in my situation. I am now anticipating the “good” that God is working together for me and my family. Thank you.
Thank you. It is always amazing how our Father works…your family radiates..thank you for your heart words today.
What a beautiful story, and what a servants heart you and your whole family have. Following His will is HARD, but the testimony for your sons (and others) is amazing. I hope that Christ radiates through me and I can be an example for my sons in that way as well. Thank you for sharing your story and encouraging me today. Your daughter is beautiful! She has an amazing testimony to share, as well.
What a beautiful story. It reminds me to pray for the directions god wants for my life more fervently and to be still long enough to hear the answer.
Simply amazing, Renee, how God orchestrated all of these loose ends together. You are such an example to so many of us who go through the hard times. I am certain that Aster’s mom is eternally grateful for you, even though it is bittersweet – for both of you I imagine! Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you for your story and beautiful pictures. Such a beautiful reminder of God’s truth and love for us. I’m reminded of when we walk in the shadow of His love our perspective changes. When we trust Rom.8:28 then even the hard stuff is evidence of His grace. In Anne V’s words, “All is Grace”.
Thank you for the reminder of the hard things in life aren’t always about what God wants to work through you but that you are a part of His working through others too. God is good and His plans and will are good. Life is very hard at times. God bless you and your family and the gift He has sent you. I am sure the smile and joys far our weigh the hard times. Thank you again for the reminder, exactly what I needed.. God’s timing is perfect!
What a wonderful and encouraging story! Thank you for sharing.
What a wonderful story. Your daughter is beautiful. You and your family are truly blessed by God; there is so much love shown in those photos. Thank you for sharing and reinforcing how good God is; as well as to know that He does work things out for the good for all that are involved in the situation. May God bless you and keep you and your family.
Thank you for sharing! I needed this today. I’m following an assignment from God and it’s been so hard and so exhausting, but I know there is His good in it all!!
What an amazing story! Thank you for sharing this with me today. I am guilty of only seeing the hard parts of my life,. That is, until I can look back and see how faithful the Lord has been with me.
Such an encouragement this morning! Thanks for sharing. We have adopted twins that are special needs and can be so diffiult some days. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. The pictures of Aster with her birth mother are precious. What a selfless act on both mothers parts to give what you both did! My daughter also has SPD so I can also understand the struggle with that. May God Bless continue to bless you!
Such a wonderful story of a family who followed hard after God and even though it isn’t always easy allowed God to use every part of the experience to make them more like Christ. What a beauty!
Such a beautiful adoption story and a needed reminder of God’s working in our lives. Thank you!
Pictures really do say a thousand words. They brought supernatural life to your story. I had a little glimpse of your journey and I thank you for sharing. You truly have a beautiful family and your spirits are even more beautiful. You have encouraged me to trust God and to know that His plan will indeed work out for my good. I will continue to pray for your family’s strength in the Lord while you do your part in God’s Kingdom here on earth.
Hi Renee! Do you remember me? I am so encouraged by your story, and it is a familiar road to me in many ways. God bless you today. In Him, Cindy Walker in North Carolina :))
Praying for the Lord to tap someone on the shoulder to reach out to our children who traded the safety of a Christian home for a life of sex, drugs, and alcohol. May the seeds we planted be watered with prayer and may we be tapped on the shoulder to serve while waiting for the harvest.
How hard would it be as a momma to give up your child? That is truly a deep love wanting something more for your child. And what an amazing story for you to be a part of, wow!
What a beautiful story! Thanks for sharing. A pastor once gave a beautiful illustration of this. His wife was cross stitching and from where he was sitting, all he could see was a tangled mess on the back. He got up to go get water and then he could see the beautiful design on the top. Sometimes all we can see is the messy circumstances down here on earth, but God sees something beautiful being designed. Love it!
Thank you for sharing this story! It is so easy to get caught up in the “hard” and lose focus of Who. I thank God for His working in my life. I know if the bad things I imagine do happen, it is because God is preparing to use it for something good. Your story reminds me to stay focused on Jesus! Thank you again!
Thank you for sharing. What a beautiful family you have. What an inspiration and reminder to me. Your obedience and love helped me realize that in my current situation, God is working it out and someone else is being helped. I just need to trust him and everything will out according to his plan. Thank you again.
What an inspiring and beautiful story. Gives me hope and a reminder to pray about everything. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your story Renee. Your family is beautiful! Romans 8:28 happens to be my favorite scripture. Lately I’ve been going through some challenging times with my stepson and his behavior. I sometimes wonder if everything I have done is for not. But after reading your blog I feel somewhat encouraged. Please pray for me as I go through this storm. And I will keep reminding myself that “God will work all that together for good”. If HE did it for you HE will do it for me in HIS divinely appointed time. Peace and Blessings!
What a beautiful story and one that hits close to home. We too adopted a little girl with special needs. She is the light of our life and just what God knew our family needed. It has not been an easy road but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ve learned so much about my Heavenly Father through parenting this very special little girl.
It was a blessing to read this today. There is a relationship in my life where I tend to always see the hard and wonder why things aren’t working out in MY favor. I never stopped to think that perhaps the things I see as selfish downfalls are being used for the good of someone else. It gives a new perspective on life’s hard seasons. His ways and thoughts are not ours, and He always has our best interest at heart, even when we can’t see it. Thank you for sharing! 🙂 Praying God blesses you and your family.
What a beautiful story! Thank you so much for sharing!
Perfect & Beautiful. Adoption, redemption, providing opportunity where hopelessness abounds…
I dont want to ‘win’ these earrings. …I’m going to ask for them as a Christmas present. A good conversation starter!
Thank you for sharing your story. It gives me encouragement, as today I am seeing only the hard parts. This story gives me strength and faith that God is working my situation for “good”.
Renee,
Thank you for opening my eyes to see how God works in ways we cannot see or imagine for our good and the blessing worth receiving at the end of it, while enduring the circumstance or situation. Each point you made and emphasized, made me think and wonder about my own heartaches and circumstances I’m dealing with right now. I too would like to truly see and understand how God works these things in my life that are so hard and painful for good.
I long to be a blessing to my family in every way, but the enemy is doing everything to keep me from being that and everything else God wants me to be, which is affecting my family and some other relationships in my life, that is causing me to live in a cycle of guilt and condemnation. But, i’m not allowing him to win, I’m fighting it out with the Lord and trusting Him to heal and set right all that has gone awry. Please keep me and my family in prayer. Your story and family have been an inspiration to me. Your persona itself has always been captivating to me – You Radiate Jesus. God bless you.
What a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing! The pictures of Aster with her birth mother broke my heart, as I can’t imagine how hard saying goodbye must have been. You have a beautiful family!