The Good Work
I was on a prayer call with a group of women when the facilitator began teaching us about how we are chosen by Yeshua. While she was teaching, God began to whisper to my spirit: You were chosen, and the things you have to endure are to make you better.
He reminded me of my garden and the time I discovered aphids on my squash plant. I immediately reached for the neem oil spray to protect the plant. Aphids can cause extreme damage to a crop. Then God spoke to my heart: Those squash plants had no idea why you sprayed them with oil. They may not have liked it, but what you were doing was best for them. They had to endure the spraying because you were preventing them from experiencing something far worse.
Recently, we cared for our eighteen‑month‑old grandson for a little over a week. He’s at that stage where he wants to be independent, but many of the choices he makes could put him in danger. He has a strong and persistent personality, so when we tell him “no,” he makes it clear that he’s disappointed—sometimes even throwing a fit. Yet we don’t change our minds because we know the decisions we make are for his good.
I believe Yeshua does the exact same thing for us. When He allows us to go through tests, He knows exactly what those trials will produce in us. No matter how much we complain, He doesn’t change His mind—because He knows what is best. He is often working out something we cannot yet see or understand.
I want to clarify: there are many evil things that happen in this world because it is under the control of Satan. Those evil things do not come from God. Scripture says, “When you are tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full‑grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:13‑15, NLT)
Jesus came to save humanity from sin and reconcile us to God. Yet Scripture also says we will be tested: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2‑4, ESV)
These tests do a good work in us—producing unwavering faith and spiritual maturity. Even when we face challenging situations, we can bring everything to God and seek His wisdom on how to walk through them. We can be confident that He is working all things together for our good. He is able, and He is faithful.
Key Takeaways
God is always at work in our lives.
Spiritual maturity is produced through the tests God allows us to experience.
The good work in us never ends. (Abraham was tested at 125 years old!)
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
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