| Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” |
Many things happen in life happen to you that you would not choose.
• Jobs lost.
• Friends who seem to drop away from your life.
One of those kinds of things, in a different way, happened to me as a boy.
My mother had a friend who lived on a farm with her husband in Ackerly, TX You may or may not know where Ackerly is, and I would not blame you. It is one of those small farming communities that dot the West Texas landscape.
We were visiting them, and I was excited. They had all kinds of animals but the one that fascinated me the most was the horses. It was one of those horses that caused the trouble in this story.
The farmer wanted to load the horse in a trailer. So, he guides the animal up the ramp of the trailer and told me to close the gate and hold it shut until he could latch it. I dutifully accomplished the task.
Except…the horse had other ideas. He decided he really did not want to be in that trailer that morning. So, he reared back kicked the gate open with me underneath is and then backed out, with me under the gate.
Fortunately, I was no worse for the wear and, little did I know I would have a good story to tell on a Monday morning more than half a century later.
But one thing I do remember. There was little I could do at the moment. And as I lay there on the ground, I realized I could get up and just dust myself off and learn a valuable lesson. Never get behind a horse, no matter what the reason.
It’s unexpected and unpleasant things that alter life.
One of my favorite characters is Joseph, the next to youngest son of the patriarch Jacob.
He had dreams.
But dreams were dashed. Slavery, accusation, and prison awaited a young man who believed he was going places.
But he kept his faith and let God do the work.
He developed a perspective we all need. When his brothers grew afraid, Joseph calmed their anxiety. “But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:19–20)
We never know what the outcome of things will be especially uncomfortable things. If we pick ourselves up, God can take the evil and mean it for good.
Trust God to do that with your troubles.
–Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
