"Sofia, chore time! Today we're going to--what's wrong?" Aunt Lori set down the buckets she was holding and gently put her hands on Sofia's shoulders. "Aren't you having a nice time on the farm?"
Sofia tried to smile. "I just wish Mom and Dad were here with me." Her throat felt tight. She buried her face in her aunt's denim shirt, trying to control her tears.
"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry." Aunt Lori hugged her niece tight, remembering when her own parents separated many years before.
"Why did God let this happen to me if He's supposed to be good? I don't see anything good in my parents getting a divorce!" Sofia said fiercely.
Aunt Lori was silent as she brushed Sofia's hair. After a moment, she said, "Let's go empty the compost."
As they emptied the buckets into the compost bin, Sofia grimaced at the smell of the decomposing fruits and vegetables. "Gross," she muttered. Then they walked to the garden to do some weeding.
"The plants are gorgeous," Sofia observed. "How do you keep them so healthy?"
"I put compost on them. But those haven't been getting much," Aunt Lori said, nodding to some rows of sadder-looking plants. "Let's put some compost on them now."
As they worked, Aunt Lori said, "You know, Sofi, I think we're like these plants, and the difficulties we face are like compost."
"How?" Sofia asked, puzzled.
"Well, God can use the hard things in our lives to help us trust Him more and grow in our faith. He promises to use everything for good. Jesus's death on the cross was horrible, yet that's how God did the greatest good of all and saved us from our sins. And He can bring good from bad things that happen. God hates divorce--it's not good. My parents' divorce was awful, but it helped me see God as my perfect, loving Father. By His grace, I'm not a withered, dying plant because I know He is always with me, giving me strength." Aunt Lori smiled.
Sofia had never thought about life that way. She did want to be vibrant and strong like the healthy-looking plants. She would think hard about what Aunt Lori had said.
–Rachel Avallone
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you gone through uncomfortable or painful things in your life? It’s natural to become upset and ask God, “Why is this happening to me?” Even though bad things happen, we know God is good. He promises to be with us through the hard things, and He is always at work in our lives. When difficult things happen, trust that God will use them for good.
TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Romans 8:28 (KJV)
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)