“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…”

(Genesis 50:20 ESV)

Do I believe that people can have bad intentions towards us, even those we thought were supposed to be good to us? People who would rather see you fail than win, cry than laugh, fall than rise? Sadly, yes. I often say that it’s not that I don’t see them, I just choose not to give them the power to be seen. Because when we focus on the people who wrong us, we end up giving them the time and attention they don’t deserve.

But here’s the good news. No matter who meant evil against us, God can turn it for good. I’m writing this from experience, so believe me when I say that God will use what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good. And friend, this is what gets me through the most difficult days when I see evil manifest itself through people who allow the devil to work through them. Good always triumphs over evil. Always. That is why we can rise above the evil prevalent in our world today.

Today’s verse comes from the lips of one of my favourite Old Testament heroes: Joseph. The man whose own brothers meant evil against him said that God turned it for good. He could have chosen to focus on the evil committed against him, but rather chose to focus on the good that came out of it. Because if we really took the time to think about it, “God works ALL things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). He assures us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Count on it, the best is yet to come!