Is God Good When Everything Goes Wrong?
Have you ever experienced a time when it felt like everything went wrong? Maybe it was a popped tire on your road trip or a family visit that ended in chaos. Maybe it was a season of unemployment and uncertainty. Perhaps, for you, it was an extended season of medical issues or a heartbreaking diagnosis. Bad news in your community or a traumatic event. And maybe that season hasn’t ended for you — you may feel that way today. How do you tend to respond when it feels like everything is going wrong?
It can be incredibly hard to trust God. Many people grow hopeless or turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Have those things ever worked for you before? In these moments of difficulty, it’s tempting to take matters into your own hands instead of doing things God’s way.
Genesis 37-50 tells the long story of Joseph’s life. Joseph walked through extreme trauma and grief caused by people he loved. He found himself in the pit, both literally and figuratively, more than once. Throughout his life, Joseph experienced confusion, darkness, and isolation as he was repeatedly mistreated, forgotten, and abused.
Have you felt that way before? Joseph was a man of great character, obedient to God, and yet, everything seemed to go wrong. Maybe you’ve experienced something similar and questioned whether God was still good.
As you read Joseph’s story in Genesis, you’ll find that the Lord God was with Joseph every step of the way (Genesis 39:2, 3, 21, 23). Joseph felt alone, but he never truly was. God was always up to something, even when Joseph couldn’t see it.
Because Joseph trusted God, he never gave up hope. He did not turn to his own devices, acting selfishly in his pain, as he could have. Joseph continued in wisdom and patience as he trusted God’s plan.
In the end, God used Joseph to save thousands of people’s lives. Joseph forgave and saved the very same people who caused him harm. He praised God for the work God did in and through his experiences, even when it looked like everything was going wrong.
Life is not easy, and there’s no promise that things will turn out the way we might like. But, as the Bible teaches, God redeems all things for good.
How can you trust God today?
DIVE DEEPER
The story of Joseph teaches us three things:
There is a faith-filled response in every season.
God is doing more than we can see.
God is doing something bigger than us.
No matter what difficulty you might walk through some day, you can live as if God knows what he’s doing… because he always does. Watch this week’s sermon for more.