There are so many ideas and beliefs that pop up in the world as attempted solutions for the guarantee that our hearts are searching for: that all of our pain isn’t wasted. And yet, when I read this verse, I’m reminded of how much more certainty we can have in trusting God’s promise to bring purpose out of even our deepest pain. Only God is sovereign over all our circumstances, all-knowing of all our thoughts, dreams, and disappointments, and all-powerful to bring purpose and hope from the most desperate situations.
It can be easy to slip into a faulty belief system that says that if we do for God, He will do for us. Or believing that “God helps people who help themselves.” Instead, as we love God and trust Him wholeheartedly, we are able to turn over the details of His purposes and redemption of all things into His hands. We are also able to live with certainty and confidence that God will be faithful to bring His restoration to completeness, even if the way, timing, or results are completely different than what we would imagine or plan for ourselves.