Misquoted

The other night the hubby and I were talking.  And he made a very good point.  [He is brilliant, really, much smarter than I am... he just prefers to fly under the radar and not let everyone in on that little secret.]  He said, "You know what?  That verse in the Bible about everything working together for good... it is totally misquoted.  Have you ever noticed that?"

We had been riding in the car and heard it quoted... er, misquoted... on a radio program.

And he is right.

Our journey with Brooklyn has been a bumpy ride... and lately it seems to be smoothing out a little.

Though I probably shouldn't type that, because it is always when things seem to be going well that lightening strikes.  But anyway... over the past three years and the bumps and dips in the roller coaster of parenting a child who doesn't fit into the "neurotypical" mold... we've been told many times... that all things work together for good if you love Jesus... so it is all going to be fine.

Brooklyn will be fine, life will be fine, and bad things just don't happen to those who love God.

But that isn't actually what the verse says.

At all.

I'm not saying these people aren't well-intentioned.  They absolutely are.  They show up with casseroles and hugs and great intentions to comfort and love on us... and without them our ship would have surely sunk many storms ago.  But they are wrong about the scripture they love to quote.

Romans 8:28 actually says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose." 

Sometimes I wish that meant...

Its all good.

Hakuna matata.

Everything is fine.

But I think the meaning goes a bit deeper.  I think what scripture says is that everything God allows into our lives, He allows for our ultimate good.  Not our good right now.  Not so we feel good.

What do I mean?  Well, your child having a seizure disorder is not fun.  It doesn't feel good.  It seems unfair and unkind at times.  It is expensive, frustrating, and exhausting.

But you know what has happened because my child has a seizure disorder?

I've learned to trust God on a much deeper level.

I've met mothers of tremendous character that have encouraged me on my walk with Christ.

I've gotten angry... and learned that God can take it.  And that His grace is sufficient.

I've found opportunities to help others and to educate a community.

I've gotten a huge education myself.

I've grown closer to my husband as we have weathered storms we never saw coming.

I've overcome fears and succumbed to others, and laid others at the feet of the One big enough to handle them all.

I've found a voice I didn't know I had.

I've laughed and cried with others.

I've had multiple meltdowns in church.

I've developed a deep yearning for the glorious day when I see my baby's body whole and healed without three seizure meds... on the other side of eternity.

So you know what?  I don't think the verse means that things are good now, and that healing happens now, and that everything will be fine and pain-free.

But I think it means... that God is using whatever He allows in my life to work together for my ultimate good... according to His purpose.  And His purpose may not be mine... just like His plans aren't mine.  

But guess what?  They are even better.

Hallelujah.