When Bad News Becomes the Best News: Discovering God’s Good Purpose

Summary

God often uses what feels like bad news to produce lasting good. From painful medical procedures to unwanted career changes and job loss, each experience became preparation for deeper fulfillment and ministry. Scripture affirms that God works all things together for good. His Kingdom is good news for those who repent, trust His rule, and discover the joy, peace, and purpose found in living for Jesus.

When Necessary Pain Brings Greater Health

I have frequently understood good news events as bad news. Several medical examples illustrate the point. When I was about eight, my doctor informed me that my tonsils needed removal. I went to the hospital for an operation. That wasn’t good news, but the surgery produced significantly better health.

My dentist told me my wisdom teeth had to be extracted. That wasn’t thrilling. An oral surgeon removed them. After that, I no longer experienced severe pain behind my eyes as I did before they were pulled.

Resisting God’s Unwanted Call

In my early twenties, God called me into vocational Christian work. That wasn’t appealing at all. It sounded like a bad idea. I fought His call and prepared for my dream aquatic biologist job. It was fun but not fulfilling. I wasn’t making a difference. 

Surrender That Led to Deeper Fulfillment

The persistent inner pressure to follow God’s call finally moved me to say yes to have peace. It still seemed bad news, but vocational ministry in time became far more fulfilling than my career choice.

Discovering God's Good Purpose

Vocational ministry was preparation for an even more fulfilling ministry of providing free spiritual resources for Christians in my retirement. The call into vocational Christianity, which initially seemed like bad news, became the best news through discovering God's good purpose. Jesus promised His purpose is to give us a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10 NLT). By His grace, He has done that.

God’s Promise to Redeem All Things

The Apostle Paul wrote, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT). Even our painful life experiences are raw materials God uses for our eventual good.

Losing a job morphed from an excruciating experience, step by step, into a writing ministry that touches more people for Christ than I ever imagined. The job loss was part of preparing for future ministry. My emotions changed from overflowing anger to overflowing joy.

Why God’s Kingdom Is Truly Good News

God’s rule on earth is good news. “Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1 NLT). That is good news for those who seek His Kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

What is the good news of the gospel? Jesus came to earth to free us from our fears and all the dark, negative forces that control us, so we can serve Him gratefully and experience peace, purpose, power, and pardon from our sins.

So, does God’s rule seem good news or bad? It is bad news only if we aren’t living for Jesus (2 Corinthians 15:5) but doing what we want when we want. That won’t end well. Repentance turns us from the foolishness of disobedience to the wisdom of the righteous (Luke 1:17 NIV). And the joy!

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