Can Anything Good Come Out of It?

Many times while we are right in the midst of our trials and troubles, we often wonder "can anything good come out of these hardships that I am in?" Do we look too much at the trials and storms rather than to the one who may be sending the storms as well as the end result of these storms? Too often we do.
The bible says in Romans 8:28 ...that all things work together for good to them that love God...
So why do we forget this scripture during our hardships? It is because we look on the here and now and not to the future of these present events.
The town of Nazareth was not a well known town in Jesus' day. Sometimes strangers traveling on the highways of that time passed by Nazareth never even knowing that it was there. Throughout the history of the Old Testament, nothing significant took place at Nazareth to make mention of. Wars and battles took place all around surrounding areas of Nazareth. No one famous or of royalty status came from Nazareth.
Phillip, after having spoken with Jesus, told Nathaniel that they have found him, of whom Moses, in the law, and the prophets did write about, meaning Jesus of Nazareth. Nathaniel said to Phillip, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"
Maybe nothing good would ever come out of Nazareth. But Jesus was in Nazareth and he is the epitome of good.
Is Jesus in our storms and hardships? Or do we have him sitting on the banks of our raging seas? If Jesus is a part of all of our storms, then something good will come out of all of our troubles and trials.
Did something good come out of Elijah's dilemma with Jezebel or in his confrontation with the sons of Baal? Yes. He was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.
Did something good come out of Rahab the harlot's confrontation with the messengers sent by Joshua? Yes. She and her household was saved at the destruction of Jericho.
Did something good come out of all of the assumed ridicule and degrading that Noah received during the building of the ark? Yes. Only he and his family were saved from the flood.
Did something good come out of Joseph being imprisoned and forgotten for years after being sold as a slave? Yes. He came to be second in command under Pharaoh of Egypt and in charge of everything.
Did something good come out of Lazarus' death? Yes. He was raised from the dead by Jesus.
Did something good come out of the ten lepers being afflicted with leprosy? Yes. Jesus healed them.
Did something good come out of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda? Yes. Jesus healed him.
Did something good come out of blind Bartemaeus' condition? Yes. Jesus healed him, giving him sight.
Did something good come out of Peter's denying Jesus at his trial? Yes. At the summoning of the disciples, Jesus specifically asked for Peter. Peter was also given the keys to the kingdom of heaven. He was also the one to take the plan of salvation to the Jews, to the Samaritans and to the Gentiles. Peter also preached the first sermon on the day of Pentecost after Jesus' ascension to heaven.
Was Jesus involved in these cases mentioned? Yes he was. Is Jesus involved in your storms and trials? If he is, then something good will come out of them. What we must do to ensure a good ending to our storms, is to stay consistent with God. He has placed a call on each and every one of us and it is up to us to stay committed to his call on our lives. Then in due season we will see something good come out of all of our storms and trials and we will be able to look back on them with confidence in God, and know that when we face yet even more storms of life, that God will come through for us, as he always came through before.
September 21,1997