By Shayne Mason Vincent

“Everything happens for a reason” is one of those clichés that aggravate me. “Everything” is not supposed to happen. We are Arminians after all, not Calvinists. God doesn’t plan for people to be abused, nor does He want our loved ones to die prematurely just so we can learn something from it. God doesn’t create bad things, nor does He call bad things good. But what God does do, and marvelously, is make beautiful things out of bad.

Illustrating this is a Japanese tradition called kintsugi. Over the centuries, Japanese potters developed an ingenious way of salvaging broken pottery. By knitting together broken shards with seams of gold, the scars make what was once broken and worthless into a beautiful work of art.

In the same way, God takes the broken and unwanted, and knits them back together, making them more beautiful than if they had never been broken at all. As Tony Robbins states, “If I am going to blame my abusive mother for all the bad things in my life, then I also have to thank her for all the strength she taught me in learning to overcome.” We must be patient with God, so He can create beauty from our scars.

Adyashanti, a Buddhist philosopher, once said, “You must choose between your attachments and happiness.” What does this mean? It means that we must choose between our expectations and what actually is. Meaning that happiness is a choice; a choice to be grateful for what is still good rather than fixating on what is not. As in the practice of kintsugi, we must choose to seek beauty among the scars of sin. We must, like Paul, recognize what is good, regardless of the circumstance.

In learning the truths of gratitude, God is not asking us to pretend those bad things are good. Consider these words:

For I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13, NLT)

Gratitude is not about being fake or naive. Believe me, there is a vast gulf between the facade of those who pretentiously claim to be “blessed,” and those who have truly learned to trust God, even when their house is burning down around them. The power of gratitude is that the more you speak light, the more you will be filled by light.

Perspective is everything.

The book, Ministry of Healing, expresses this concept perfectly:

No tongue can express, no finite mind can conceive, the blessing that results from appreciating the goodness and love of God. Even on earth, we may have joy as a well-spring, never failing, fed by the streams that flow from the throne of God. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings—as much a duty as it is to pray. If we are heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners, groaning and complaining all along the way to our Father’s house? Often your mind may be clouded because of pain. Then do not try to think. You know that Jesus loves you. He understands your weakness. You may do His will by simply resting in His arms. Educate your heart and lips to speak the praise of God for His matchless love. Educate your soul to be hopeful, and to abide in the light shining from the cross of Calvary. (p. 138)

Are we willing to see the good that still exists in life? Or will we spend our existence mourning over unmet expectations? In Christ, there is hope in the midst of hopelessness. In Christ, there is still a purpose, even when ambition must lie at the foot of the Cross. Why? Because, just as thorns are real, so too are roses. In letting go of what is not, gratitude opens our eyes to the happiness of what we already possess: our family, our friends, a sunny day, a rainstorm, a good book, even puppies (yes, puppies). So let your joy be found in the journey because, “There is nothing in nature that blooms all year long, so don’t expect life to do so either” (Unknown).

–Shayne Mason Vincent is lead pastor of the Casper Wyoming District. Email him at: [email protected]