As I sit here this morning someone is pounding away in my kitchen, nail guns are going off, power saws are running, reconstructing my kitchen. And I am lovin’ every moment. I will soon have my kitchen back, water damage mitigated, new cabinet, flooring, countertops. I will even have a change that I have wanted to make since we moved in, the reduction of the eating bar countertop that hung over into the living room. Always hated that countertop. Now it is gone, soon to be replaced by a much smaller one that doesn’t invade the living room space.
What appeared to be a disaster and left us initially wondering what to do is turning out to improve our house. Worn flooring will be gone and new installed. Countertops are new and more modern. And we didn’t even have to pay for it, insurance covered the cost (all but a deductible).
As I have listened to the noise in my kitchen for days, I have thought about that Scripture in Romans–that “all things” scripture found in chapter 8, verse 28. “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” [Christian Standard Bible]
The NIV changes that verse just a little … “And we know that in all things God works for the good….”
We need to understand that “all things” working together doesn’t happen randomly. It takes an initiating and sustaining power to make all things work together for good. My kitchen is not becoming better, newer, all by itself. I can put all the wood, nails, countertops and flooring in there, but if a skilled craftsman doesn’t arrange them as they need to be, it isn’t going to happen on its own. In the same way, the “all things” of our life work out for the good because our Father God, through the power of His Holy Spirit in us, ordains them to do so!
Thank you, Father, for the skilled craftsman in my kitchen – and thank you Father for the skilled craftsman, Your Holy Spirit, working all things together for good in me. Amen.
