All Things Work Together

This book I'm reading, by Joel Osteen, has many truths in it - some that I just haven't had happen to me yet, but I know they are out there. There's one in particular that I had come to 'truth' for me this weekend - and it was a neat thing to realize that it connected to what I'm learning through Joel's book.

When the end of April comes, lots of moving in university towns occur. Leases are up, people are moving, lots of furniture (gross and dirty) are out on the curbs...it's just ridiculous. My sister and I went to go see a place today (we're considering moving, but don't think we will) and the landlords were cleaning up from the last tenants who were apparently disgusting. The place was in better shape by the time we got there, but from the stories the landlord told us, it wasn't a pretty sight when they arrived yesterday.

Anyways, on to my story. I told my friend that I would help her move out of her current house and into a new house for the summer. I called her up at 2 pm and told her I was coming over. She asked me if I was okay with cleaning. I didn't understand why she would be cleaning, as I didn't know the situation and the house she was moving into, but I said it was fine. Needless to say, the place she was moving into was a pig sty. Gross and disgusting. So, we cleaned it up. I took some time with the swiffer on the floors, and a magic eraser to the walls. It brought me back to the days I was a custodian at Brock, and some of the disgusting things we encountered, especially when we were doing Spring cleaning, after the University students moved out after living in the room for 8 months (spent 2 days in a bathroom that 2 boys shared, and pretty sure didn't clean ever). Gross. Gross. Gross. (I could say it a million times over, but I think you get the point).

Relating to Joel's book "It's Your Time", I just finished reading a chapter over the past couple days where he was talking about how God uses hardships to prepare you for the future. Now, my example isn't quite the extreme...but that summer working as a custodian, was probably one of the worst experiences and summers of my life. Why I chose to do that, I have no answer for that question, other than I was trying to make money. But I persevered and got through it, and learned some very good cleaning techniques and tricks. Well, that experience prepared me for today, as I was NOT as disgusted as some of the others who were helping, and I was able to use my 'expertise' to help my friend clean up her place and prepare it for move-in.

Joel calls this chapter in his book "All Things Work Together for Our Good". It's true - no matter what hardship you're going through, God does not give you anything you cannot handle, and later on in life, He will show you exactly why you went through that hardship. Either it will help you get through something later, or you will be able to help someone else who is going through something similar. Either way - God's got you in mind, and will help you through anything. Just as the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Ahh, what a glorious statement. That is all.