Ephesians 1:11

Ephesians 1:11 (ESV)

[11] In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Notice that this verse does not say that “he causes all things according to the counsel of his will,” but that he “works all things according to the counsel of his will.” That is a significant difference. We do not live in a predetermined world where a malevolent and malicious God loves to play with our emotions and watch us squirm, but where a good God takes even the pain in our lives and works it for good.

Bad things happen to people because we live in a broken world. Holidays seem to remind us not only of the joy of the season, but of the hurt, pain, and despair hidden behind the festivities. While we celebrate we are also very aware that there are families that have nothing to celebrate. There are families that are broken, homeless, abusive, without hope. There are individuals alone with the grief of losing a loved one. There are people facing crises of health, joblessness, poverty, disabilities, rejection, or unexpected loss and pain. Where is God in all that?

Some would blame God. “How could he do this to me?” Others would reject God. “If there was a God he wouldn’t have allowed this to happen.” Some draw nearer to God. “His is my only hope and strength as I face that which I cannot handle on my own.” There are many responses to brokenness, but the verse quoted above does not say that God directly causes all these bad things. What it promises is that he works all of this pain and brokenness for a higher good. We can trust him in the darkness and pain. Through it he will work all things for his purposes, and his purposes are always good. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). As we celebrate the birth of our Lord, and anticipate a new year ahead, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (Ex 24:1).