God Can Use Anything for Good

by Catherine McDade

Romans 8:28 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. [NIV]

     Growing up with parents who were in the music industry in the 1970’s and 1980’s, I was around drugs, alcohol, partying, and fighting from childhood.  I saw things that you would hope kids would never experience.  As I entered my teenage years I was no longer a happy, beautiful, outgoing kid.  I was troubled – at times not wanting life to continue.  Most of the time I felt unloved by people all around me and I didn’t know how to overcome the things I had experienced.  I was haunted by memories of my parents’ fights and a stabbing I had witnessed. 

     When I gave my life to Jesus I suddenly felt hope that I hadn’t known before.  Although I had a new ability to face hard things going on around me, I still struggled with the goodness of God. If God is totally good, and if God wants only good for my life, why had a good God allowed bad things to happen to me? 

     About 10 years after I had given my life to Christ I learned how God can use all things for his glory.  As a volunteer instructor in an Outfitters for Adventure school of ministry training I was teaching halfway around the world at a church in outer Mongolia. We had the door to the church building open on a hot summer evening. I was talking about suffering based on Romans 5:1-5.

 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

     An English teacher happened to be walking by. When he heard me speaking in English, he decided to find out what was going on.  As he came in I was talking about the terrifying experiences of my childhood and how God had reached me in the midst of that. 

     After the teaching was done the gentlemen came forward to talk with me.  My story had fascinated him and he wanted to know more about this God I had talked about.  I was able to share the gospel message with him and witness him give his life to Christ. 

     Later that evening during my quiet time as I was reflecting on this experience, God reassured me my story demonstrates the hope that is found in Christ. I realized that if all the bad things I had gone through were just so one guy would give his life to Christ, it was well worth it.  I decided Satan can no longer use my story to discourage me. Now I truly see how God turned my history into His story used for His glory. 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, 
    New International Version®, NIV®. 
    Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™  
    Used by permission of Zondervan. 
    All rights reserved worldwide.
    www.zondervan.com