A friend told me about ten years ago, while we were talking about our health, “Nothing good happens after 60.” Since then, he and I have both had our share of challenges.

As I have grown older, life has become more serious, and, strangely enough, more joyful at the same time.

I will be the first to admit that my perspective comes from experiencing the grace and presence of God through the crises I have faced. I understand that if you do not believe in God or trust Him, it may be difficult to see how anything good could possibly come from a crisis.

Again and again, difficult seasons have compelled me to draw closer to the Lord in prayer and worship. They have reminded me that while I cannot control everything that happens, I can trust the God who is sovereign over my life.

“That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Romans 8:28, Message

Here is a Life Application Point for us:

If it isn’t good yet, God isn’t finished yet.

That doesn’t mean everything that happens to us is good, or that everything that happens is God’s will. We live in a fallen world. Terrible things happen. People with evil in their hearts do evil things. Callous people walk past suffering without giving thought to those who hurt.

But we are called to respond differently.

We meet darkness with light, hunger with food, sickness with healing, despair with hope, and evil with good.

The Bible says: “Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.” Romans 12:21, Message

This is so important: Every crisis we face—whether through no fault of our own or because of our own choices—can become a place of redemption when we entrust it to God. God can take what was intended for evil, what resulted from our own mistakes, or what simply came from living in a broken world, and work through it for our good and His glory.

Good to Great!

The stories of Noah, Moses, Joseph, Peter, Paul—and Mary (I couldn’t resist!) show us again and again how God used crisis to deepen faith, shape character, and prepare people for His purposes.

These were ordinary people whom God shaped into extraordinary people, great people, through faith and obedience.

And He is still shaping people in the crucible of crisis.

If you can stand the pulling, God will pull you through.

Ronald Rolheiser writes: “Crises of every kind will find us … [But] these crises enter our lives not just as challenges to us to retain our balance and stability, but as invitations to stretch our hearts and minds … [Every crisis] includes within [itself] an invitation for us to move from being good people to becoming great people.” Ronald Rolheiser, Sacred Fire

So today, bring your anxiety, cares, worries, and fears to the Lord.

He’s got this. And more importantly, He’s got you.

If you are walking through a crisis, pause for a moment. Kneel in His presence if you can. Pray. Worship. Cast your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.

He really, really does.

You may not yet see what God is doing. You may not understand why this has happened or how the story will unfold. But you can trust the One who is writing the story.

The crisis does not get the final word. God does.

Grace and Peace!