“How am I going to answer their question about my GPA?” the college senior sighed. As his job interview drew steadily nearer, Ben1 now fretted openly about his good-but-not-great transcript. “Just turn the negative into a positive,” chimed my wife Peggy, optimistically. “How am I going to do that?” he skeptically rejoined. “Just tell him since you played college sports and worked full time while also taking a full class load, you weren’t always able to adequately prepare for exams. A better demonstration is that you passed three CPA exams on your first try and since passed the last one.” It was Ben who broke the silence that ensued, “Can you say that again? I want to write that down.”
Sometimes we let our apparent situation — and the past experiences that led us there — define who we are and obscure our trust in God. Absent understanding, doubt stymies confidence, perhaps, or despair stifles hope. But how many times must God redeem our past before we rest in Him today and trust Him for tomorrow? When Joseph’s brothers feared his retribution for their mistreatment of him, he pointed them to God’s larger purpose: “You intended to harm me,” he said, “but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”2 And when Jesus’ disciples saw Him walking on the water toward them, they cried out in fear. “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’”3 We regard circumstances in our finite way, but God rules over them in Sovereignty and ultimately for His glory. “And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”4
How has God acted in your life? How has He turned your failures into His glory? When you look back today, can you see His ongoing transformational work in you? If so, is He not praiseworthy? Remember where you were when God met you, chose you, called you, drew you, saved you, liberated you, and raised you from death to life. What does His action speak to us — perpetual blame and condemnation, or eternal acceptance as His adopted sons and daughters? In His great mercy, God turns our negatives into His positives. For “we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”5
Say that again; write that down.
Epilogue. When asked about his GPA in the interview, Ben replied with his readied response. “That’s a really good answer,” marveled his questioner. Ben got the job.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!6 In Christ we pray. Amen.
1 This name is changed for privacy purposes.
2 Genesis 50:20 NIV
3 Matthew 14:27 ESV
4 Matthew 14:33 ESV
5 Romans 8:28 NASB
6 Psalm 139:23-24 ESV
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Paul Nordman—Author 