Good from evil...

    Tasha’s father died in prison when she was seven years old. She lived with her aunt and uncle because her mother was addicted to drugs. They were devout christians. She enjoyed going to church as well as her connection with God. At around the age of fourteen, she lost her purity and at the same time got involved with drugs. She continued going to church and lived a double life. Over the next few years, her life steadily spiralled out of control. She got more involved in drugs, was in and out of jail and had four children along the way. She was filled with self-hatred and shame wondering how she was managing to do the same thing to her children that had been done to her. She wanted to get out but couldn’t. She admitted that she was a slave to her situation.
    One day, while in jail, an elderly woman told her that she needed to go home and take care of her children. She needed to call out to God before it was too late. She knew that what she was saying was true. She allowed the woman to pray with her and she felt the Holy Spirit step in and wash over her. From that day forward she experienced conviction and was awakened to the things of God. She no longer found satisfaction in drugs and began to turn her life around. She, however, struggled with thoughts of suicide and battled to attend church consistently. 
    One day, she met a pastor at a festival and admitted her struggle and asked him to pray for her. He encouraged her to pray in the name of Jesus when she felt tormented. She tried it and got her breakthrough. She realised that there was truly power in the name of Jesus. She is now working with women who went through the same struggles she once had. Now, she is excited to serve God. He has restored her children to her and as she helps others, He is helping her live the reality of Genesis 50:20 -  what the enemy meant for evil God turned it around for good for the saving of many lives. 
    I love the fact that no matter how far gone we are or think we are, God always has a way to reach us. Tasha met God in church but along the way lost her connection with and her desire for Him. Yet, it was while she was in jail that He chose to reach out to her … and get her attention! We can’t always tell God where, when, or how to reach us. We can’t even always decide who He should use. But God knows exactly what and who would get our attention. I would like to think that even when we think it’s over and it’s too late, God is still watching, waiting for just the right moment to come to our rescue. With Him, once we are alive, it’s never too late and even when the enemy is doing his best to destroy us God will use our failures and disappointments to help others and to bring glory to Himself.
    Tasha ends her story with the words of Joseph to his brothers in Genesis 50:20. After all the hurt and pain Joseph had been through because of them, Joseph realised that God was in it all along. They may have meant their bad treatment of him for evil but God used all of it to save their very lives many years later! How like God to turn what was meant for evil into something that helps even those who tried to destroy us! Only God!
    I know it’s hard, I know it’s downright discouraging at times but God’s silence does not mean His absence. He is right there, working behind the scenes, putting things in place to bring good out of a terrible situation. It can be easy to get angry with Him, wondering why He is taking so long to answer, so long to deliver, but as I have said before in different ways, it’s all about His timing. God knows exactly what to do and when to do it. Sometimes we just need to let go of our control and allow Him to take charge and do what He chooses to do. We could never be unhappy with His final result. And, when He steps in, we can be sure that every evil He will turn around for good!
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. As bad as things may seem at times, God is still good and He is still very much present! He has not gone anywhere and He will show up and work on your behalf in His perfect timing. He may seem slow but He is never late and He will surely take that impossible situation and use it for your good and for the good of others. Be encouraged!

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