Confusing Good for Evil.
Thanks for joining the Need-Hope.com podcast. In this episode, we will hear a story about a time I called something evil that was, in fact, very good. How wrong I was! You can listen to this podcast episode by clicking: Confusing Good For Evil
Welcome, my friend, to Need Hope.
I’m Chris Gray. And I’m so glad you’re here.
Where do you find hope?
In a moment, I will share a story about a time I called something evil that was, in fact, very good. How wrong I was! Stay tuned.
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First, let’s listen to God’s Word. Isaiah 55:8-9. I pray God speaks to our hearts.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
I must say, my friend, it’s always humbling, or should I say humiliating, when we discover we didn’t consider God’s thoughts or ways first. We thought we had it figured out.
Here’s my story… First off, in Dallas, Texas, we thank the Lord Jesus for air conditioning. Temperatures during the summer can get extremely hot. During the summer of 2012, it was especially hot. To beat the heat, I walked my sweet dog Rudi in the mornings. It was better for both of us.
Also during that summer was a breakout of West Nile virus. This dangerous virus is transmitted by mosquitoes. Either your body fights it off like the flu, or it doesn’t. Sadly, several people in our area had died.
As we left for a walk, I noticed a swarm of dragonflies in our front yard. These scary-looking insects have large eyes and buzz loudly. Even their name sounds terrible. I couldn’t get over the massive amounts of dragonflies, feverishly buzzing around. I checked out the neighbors’ yards and they had no dragonflies. It was only in our yard.
Later, I noticed dragonflies swarming in our backyard. What’s going on? I thought. Seeing these swarms of dragonflies and hearing the intense buzzing noise scared me. I wondered if they would bite me, maybe give me the West Nile virus. Being very careful to avoid the swarm, I walked around it.
I’ll be honest with you, one thought that came to my mind was: this is a scare tactic of Satan. I even commented under my breath, “the Lord rebuke you, Satan.”
Well... a morning or so later, during my devotional time to the Lord Jesus, as I was reading the Bible and praying, I felt prompted to research dragonflies. Unbeknownst to me, dragonflies EAT mosquitoes!
These insects weren’t there to hurt me. They were there to eat mosquitos and protect me from the West Nile virus. I thanked the Lord Jesus for His protection in sending those amazing dragonflies.
Today, each time I see or hear one buzzing, my heart is warmed over. Early in the morning, when sitting in my screened-in porch, whenever I hear that bzzzz, I know another mosquito is gone. It’s God’s very own mosquito zapper.
Who else forgets God has a plan?
Remember the incident with Jesus’s disciple Peter?
Peter’s plan didn’t include Jesus dying anytime soon, especially not at the hand of those evil leaders. Peter even rebuked Jesus after Jesus told His disciples that He would be killed by the leaders and rise from the dead (Matthew 16). Later, Peter cut off the ear of one of the guards arresting Jesus. Truly, our ways are not God’s ways. Our thoughts are not His thoughts.
God’s plan of rescue was to send Jesus to die for the punishment of our sins. Today, this free gift of forgiveness is available right now by repenting and trusting in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If you haven’t already, you can do this at any time. I hope you won’t wait or reject God’s love for you. If you want more information on how to have a relationship with Jesus, our website is Need-Hope.com
God showed me how easy it is to call something that is good, evil. This often happens when we have a problem or irritation or disturbance. It’s natural for us to lean on our own understanding instead of acknowledging God. In reality, though we are making our thoughts and ways higher than God’s. By failing to acknowledge God, each of us commits the sin of pride. Do you do this too?
Let me pray for us… Dear Heavenly Father, I pray Your forgiveness for not acknowledging You in the midst of being irritated or fearful. Help us trust You, Lord, with all of our hearts and not lean on our own understanding. Help us to acknowledge You in all of our ways and You will direct our path. Thanks for this promise You have given us in Proverbs 3:5-6.
My friend, here’s a few questions to consider:
Is there an area of frustration in your life where you, like me, might be weighing in on your own thoughts without acknowledging God’s thoughts and ways as being higher?
Have you turned this frustration over to the Lord Jesus, by fully trusting He has allowed this situation?
Are you trusting God to direct your path?
Let’s remember as we focus on pleasing the Lord, He will supply the grace we need precisely at the moment we need it to honor Him through any situation.
Even Romans 8:28-29 reminds us that what appears to be evil can actually be used for good in the lives of those who love God. The good is us being conformed into the image of Christ.
Until next time, look to Jesus.
And look to God’s Word for guaranteed hope.
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Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.