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Permalink Reply by Bryan J Emerson on April 19, 2018 at 5:59pm

This is nice, but I would caution against posting statements of yours without backing them up with solid chapter and verse references.  The three examples you have posted are descriptive events that did happen, however they are not *prescriptive* (meaning they do not 100% percent true for everybody).

In Genesis 50:20 Joseph says (in response to his brother's being afraid that Joseph would use his power to take vengeance on them) "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

And in Romans 8:28, Paul writes "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

However, in Hebrews 11:36-40 it says:

Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Jesus, before his betrayal, said to his disciples in John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus promises trials, tribulations, persecution, and life more abundant.  Take heart, wherever you are in life's struggle, for Jesus will not leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6) and he has gone before us into the fire to lead us through (Hebrews 12, just go read the whole thing!).

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