Is there anything good about this financial mess?
3/16/2009
In America, our financial outlook looks grimmer every week! I hear in other countries it is the same! Some of you are hurting so bad from our financial mess that you may never be able to retire. Or even worse, you are retired and can’t go back to work because of health. I know some of you have lost your job, and would love to be able to work and never retire, if you could just find a job. Those of you, who are blessed enough to have some stocks - you have literally seen them go down so much that you feel the bear (market) is running down a steep incline, with no hope of stopping.
I know at this point, my husband would have done better putting our money in our mattress than in our 401K, because it would have given us a better financial return. I know, I have to keep reminding myself God is in control, no matter how bad things look. And if I don’t, I can get in a tizzy! How about you? Yes, we humans have a free will, and can make lousy or evil decisions. These decisions can influence many people in very harmful ways, but God (Praise the Lord!) works through all of our messes, to bring His good.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…. Romans 8:28-29 (NIV)
God promises through this passage, to work all things together for our good - by using every strength and weakness (including our sins), every joy and sorrow, every disappointment and pleasure, every failure and success, every painful thing and every comforting thing; and of course He is using our financial situation. What does God’s Word mean by “for the good” here? It means that He is working everything together so we will become a Christian, and from there on, our character will become more and more like Jesus, His Son. Remember becoming like Jesus is a lifelong process, so don’t be too hard on yourself! If you get in a tizzy, remember to go to God through prayer and reading His Word. The book of Psalms is always good to read when you are struggling.
Because of God’s good, Gini