Re-Purposing ... More Than Containers

I’m the family “container queen.”

Actually, I’m obsessed with containers — cute ones, practical ones, and especially “potential ones.” You know, those containers — those boxes that come in the mail, that are sturdy and reusable, and even trendy looking … and those bags, like from the Apple store, or places like JJill and Trader Joe’s. They are perfect to reuse in practical and lovely ways.

my current “pared down” batch of usable “containers”

But truthfully, at the core of my obsession is the fact that I get great delight … truly … if someone has a need for a container and I just happen to have the perfect one.

My family has created and fed this monster time and again over the years. Often, just by keeping that one “repurposeable” box or bag, I saved one of my loved ones from "packaging disaster” (okay, a bit over the top).

my lovely & practical bag collection

One recent morning, I awakened thinking about our ZOOM class on suffering and the Father’s discipline (see previous post). The word REPURPOSES popped into my mind, along with the realization:

GOD REPURPOSES EVERYTHING
in our lives for good, for our maturity in Christ,
for His Glory, and/or the good of others.

As days went by, I couldn’t get past that word “repurpose.” It gave me great comfort and insight. The scriptures came flooding in:

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
Romans 8:28-30 NLT

Even when people are purposefully causing us suffering because of evil motives, self-centeredness, sin of any kind, God repurposes it for good.

Remember Joseph and his brothers (who sold Joseph into slavery)? They were shaking in their boots when their dad died. They thought Joseph would get his revenge on them with Dad out of the way. But no! Joseph knew God as a repurposing God:

After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s burial. But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said.

So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
Genesis 50:14-21 NLT

What suffering have you been through in the past? Can you now see, with the passage of time, how your purposeful God repurposed it for good in your life or the lives of others?

And maybe you can also see how you have grown as you walked through the trial with God.

Or maybe you are now in the darkest of trials. Cling to your purposeful, repurposing God to walk you through and bring you to the other side. You’ll experience His manifold grace in your manifold trials.

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10 NKJV

Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold [trials]; knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 ASV

Amen.