GOD IS A PRO

Nikki Hixson

Romans 8:28- “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.”

Psalm 119:68- “You are good, and what you do is good.”

When we wrote devotionals in January, I shared about the tragic experience of my older brother (who was 20 at the time) dying in a house fire.  As you can imagine, for a 13 year old girl, it was very traumatic.  I told you guys about how that experience wounded my heart in a big way, but once I let God heal the wound, it became a scar and scars tell a story that give God glory.  Remember that?  Okay, great. Today I want to share what else God has done through the death of my brother. 

It happened about 5 years ago.  I was leaving church on a Sunday afternoon when I see I have a voicemail from a girl named Kambrie.  Kambrie is who my brother was dating at the time that he died; and she was also the girl who was in the same bed as my brother when the house caught on fire at 2:30 in the morning.  Kambrie made it out of the house without any injuries… my brother, obviously, did not.  I know what some of you are thinking: How did she make it out and not him? Why would she leave and not wake him up? While I know all of your questions are valid, you will have to do what I had to do so many times- silence your mind.  I don’t have the answers to those questions and I’m okay with that.  I’m okay with it only because God has shown me time and time again that He is bigger and His purpose will prevail.

Kambrie left me a voicemail that day asking me to call her as soon as I could; she had something very important that she needed to tell me.  She later informed me that she went to a women’s retreat with her church that weekend (I didn’t even know she went to church at all), and at that retreat, God saved her; she decided to make Jesus Lord and Savior of her life.  She went on to tell me that my family was the first family she had ever seen truly walk the Christian life.  She wanted to thank me and my family for the impact we made on her life; she said it was because of us that she knew who Jesus was.  WOW. I was so in awe. This was FIVE YEARS after my brother passed away… and God was STILL somehow using and working good things out of it. I was shocked.

I tell you this story because when my brother died, there are two very different responses that my family and I could have had; and these responses fit every experience for anyone. 1. We could have been done with this whole Christian life thing and said to heck with God or 2. We could choose to hold tight to His word and believe that He is good even when we don’t understand.  Obviously, the latter of the two choices is what we did.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I was angry at God.  I told God that morning that I hated Him; I could not believe that He would allow something like this to happen.  However, I believe it was in that moment that He was the most near to me.  Although I was angry at God and shaking my fist in His face, I was still facing Him. And He pulled me in.

Imagine with me for a moment if my family would have chosen option number one.  What about Kambrie? What about Kambrie’s salvation? Would she still know Jesus today?  I have no idea.  What I do know is that regardless of your circumstances and what you may be facing today, it is important to remember our key verses- God is good and does good.  Furthermore, Romans 8:28 doesn’t say He can possibly make at least the good things work out for your good; oh no, it says He will cause EVERYTHING to work together for your good.  Trust Him. Wait patiently for Him to see His plan through.  I can guarantee you that you will not be disappointed.  Remember, God is a professional; He knows what He is doing.