Slowing way down in the book. There is just too much information for me to process at one time.
I’m still on chapter eleven: You Do Who You Are.
The author, Jeff Vanderstelt, talks about our identity, in his book Saturate: Being Disciples of Jesus in the Everyday Stuff.
Lots of good stuff. You should totally read it. But there one line that really stood out and hit me hard.
“Whatever God does to you, he also plans to do through you.”
This really meant something to me because God has really done a lot to me.
He walked me through my shame of being sexually abused as a child. He brought me out of abusive relations. He showed me how to be a mother even though I didn’t think I wanted to, or even could.
He did all this to me, and more. But he did them through other people who have walked my path before me. And you know who got them through? Other people who have walked this path before them.
“Whatever God does to you, he also plans to do through you.”
When someone asks, “Why does God let bad things happen to good people?” it may be because bad things DO happen, and once God carries them through it, he will use them to carry someone else through it too.
Isn’t that beautiful?
The saying, “All things happen for a reason.” may not be true. But God “…works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)” is!
That, I know is true because it has been true for me. I have walked along side those who have been sexually abused as a child, trying to get out of a bad relationship, and flounder as a mother. I can do this because God works through me.
I am nothing, and I can do nothing, but…
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13
“Whatever God does to you, he also plans to do through you.”
Growing Faith 