Does everything turn out good in the end?
By John A Carroll
Week 40 in the Word—October 1-7, 2021
I googled the question “Does everything turn out good in the end?” Google interpreted my question, “how can I get through hard times?” and offered me hundreds of websites.
The first one gave 65 quotes related to how to handle challenges and tough times.
One quote recommended chocolate as the solution to all problems. Mark Twain was quoted as saying, “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer someone else up.” (That was the best one in the list of 65.)
Most of the quotes focused on encouragement to keep going on, being strong and confident in yourself. Nietzsche said, “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” Maybe, but how can we be sure?
One mentioned having faith. Faith in what? Apparently, the solution is just to have faith in faith. Although a few Christian writers were quoted, none of those maxims referred to God, Jesus, or the Bible. I suspect their quotes were cherry-picked to avoid controversy.
We want to believe that everything will turn out good in the end, but what is “good”? Who gets to define good?
Forget Google. Try the Bible. It gives answers.
Only God who Himself is all-good is able to perfectly assess goodness. How can we be sure that everything will turn out good? For all things to turn out good there must be Someone who can control all things to make them turn out for good. Romans 8:28 tells us, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good.”
Scripture tells us why we exist and assures us that God is all-wise and all-powerful. This week’s Bible reading schedule is filled with passages that tell us God is working out His plans and purposes for mankind. God has exalted His Son so that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11 ESV).
No doubt life is hard, challenges are many, and disappointments come. But those who know the Lord, the triune God, Maker of heaven and earth, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who gives His Holy Spirit to His children, can trust in Him whatever comes their way. He will be glorified in the end, and we will enter into that glory to enjoy Him forever.
The Apostle Paul deserves to be on the top of the list of quotes on how to handle tough times:
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV).
Have a great week in the Word and may you remain confident that everything does turn out good in the end! God guarantees that it will be good for Him and for all who love Him.
Week of October 1-7, 2021
October 1/Day 274 The Purposes of God (Isaiah 22-23; Ephesians 3)
October 2/Day 275 God’s Grand Narrative (Isaiah 24-26; Ephesians 4)
October 3/Day 276 To Spiritually Multi-task (Isaiah 27-28; Ephesians 5)
October 4/Day 277 Authenticity in Worship and Work (Isaiah 29-30; Ephesians 6)
October 5/Day 278 Zion: The City Filled with Righteousness (Isaiah 31-33; Philippians 1)
October 6/Day 279 It’s About God (Isaiah 34-36; Philippians 2)
October 7/Day 280 No Confidence in the Flesh (Isaiah 37-38; Philippians 3)
This schedule and devotionals are taken from my book Concealed and Revealed: a year in the old and new testaments. Available here.