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He has some very mysterious ways, but He has a sovereign way and uses it for good.
Announcement
Before we begin, a quick announcement. I offer a faith-based, faith-infused mental health counseling and coaching group program. In it, I guide participants through a very real and practical question: We are told to give our anxieties to God—but how? How do we actually do that?
Our final cohort for this fall starts at the end of October with enrollment opening the week of October 12th. There’s both a free path and an upgraded path to join, so you can choose what fits best for you. To learn more or to sign up for notifications, just visit sherryelaine.com/cohorts, especially after October 12th when registration opens.
Alright, now let’s return to today’s topic.
[You may always listen to the author reading of these blog articles on the Faith & Soul Care podcast:]
God’s Pattern in Scripture
First, we want to remember God’s patterns throughout Scripture. There’s a thread woven all throughout the Bible: when evil tries to write the ending, God rewrites the story.
Joseph is one example. In Genesis 50:20, he told his brothers who sold him into slavery, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Think about Stephen in Acts 7. He was martyred for his faith. His death scattered believers out of that city, and the gospel spread farther and faster than anyone had imagined.
And then one of the greatest examples of all: the crucifixion of Jesus. That looked like the ultimate act of injustice and violence and defeat. Yet it became the very center of our faith, representing how God takes the most horrific and redeems it for good.
So when we see tragedy today, we can count on that pattern to eventually play out—because evil never has the final word in God’s kingdom.
Soul Care in Times of Trouble
Now let’s talk about our own souls and our own soul care during times like these. Here’s the thing: knowing in our heads that God will eventually prevail doesn’t always comfort our hearts in the here and now. So how do we live with that truth when we’re faced with loss, with scary news, or with the weight of What if this happens again? What if this happens closer to home? What if this gets even worse?
For me, I tend to go back to two main soul care practices.
One is breathing with Scripture. This week I’ve been meditating on Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” I’ll breathe in and quietly say in my heart, “The Lord is close.” And then I’ll breathe out, “To the brokenhearted.” Just that small rhythm anchors me in the remembrance that God is near. His nearness is always with us and always promised.
Another practice is journaling through the tension. Pour out what you’re thinking. Pour out your questions: Why this? What are You doing, God? How are You going to use this? Why does it have to be this way? This is very much a pattern in the Psalms. We see David sorting through his difficulties in this way.
Then leave space to listen after you’ve poured it out into your journal. Sometimes you will sense His gentle whisper, saying something like: “Trust Me. I’m here. I’m working. I’m not finished.” Those are often the impressions we will receive from God. And sometimes He will start showing us the ripple effects when He redeems something for better purposes.
These practices don’t erase the grief, but they help us remember that we’re not alone and we don’t have to carry heavy emotional burdens by ourselves.
How God Brings Good Out of Harm
So how does Charlie Kirk’s death fit into God’s promise to bring good out of harm? We may not see the full picture yet, but we are already getting glimpses.
First of all, his death has caused people across the political and faith spectrum to pause, reflect, and rethink how we approach one another—how we treat each other, how we speak to each other, how we respect each other.
Secondly, his message and mission are definitely not silenced. They are being amplified more than anyone could have predicted or imagined.
And finally, for many believers, this is a sobering reminder of the urgency of living with purpose, courage, and faith—and of abiding in Jesus as we do so.
Romans 8:28 tells us, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Notice it doesn’t say all things are good. Assassination is not good. Violence is not good. Prejudice is not good. Pride and racism are not good. But God takes those very things—or the circumstances that come from them—and bends them toward His purposes.
When things get really, really dark, even a small candle can break through and shine brighter than the darkness. That is what Jesus is for us. He is the candle in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
Jesus is the light of the world, and the darkness will not overcome Him.
Bringing It Close and Personal
So let’s bring this close and personal. Where in your own life do you feel like the enemy has overplayed his hand? Where do you feel something has been stolen, broken, or meant for harm?
I encourage you to pause today and simply pray:
“Lord, I don’t understand this, but I believe You are near. Show me how You are working. Calm my heart and mind.”
And then—wait. Just as Joseph had to wait years, sometimes we don’t see the good right away. But our waiting is never wasted, and God is always at work.
The Overcoming Is Finished
In closing, the events in the headlines remind us that we live in a fragile and broken world. They remind us that no one is promised tomorrow, next week, or even the next hour. But they also remind us that we have a confident hope that is unshakeable.
Jesus said in John 16:33: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.”
Now here’s something that makes my heart leap with confident hope. That word overcome in the Greek is written in the perfect tense. The perfect tense is rarely used in the New Testament, but it means that something was completed in the past, yet its effects continue into the present and into the future.
So when Jesus says, “I have overcome the world,” He’s not just talking about a one-time event. He’s
saying: “I have solved the problem. I have overcome this.” It’s finished, but the results are still unfolding. We’re living in the ongoing results of His ultimate victory.
It’s the same tense used when Jesus cried from the cross: Tetelestai—“It is finished.” Once completed, forever effective.
So yes, I notice these patterns. But here’s why that matters: Jesus’s overcoming of the world is not temporary. It’s not fragile. It’s not waiting to be undone by the next headline or the next terrorist attack. His overcoming has been completed and finished. It’s still unfolding in time.
Theologians sometimes call this the “now and not yet.” Both are true. It is completed—now. And it is still being worked out—not yet.
That’s what I want you to carry with you today. Evil intends to harm, but God overcomes. Death tries to silence, but God’s Spirit amplifies truth. Fear tries to paralyze, but God fills His people with courage. And Jesus’s victory is already secured. It is effective now, it will continue to be effective, and one day it will be fully realized.
So let’s keep our eyes fixed on Him. Let’s tend to our souls with His Word, His presence, and the renewing of our minds. And let’s remember—always, always—He is near.
He is near.
Bye for now.
Gratefully,
Sherry
Resources Mentioned:
Faith & Soul Care Foundations Cohort: sherryelaine.com/cohorts
Cohort Expanded Upgrade Option: sherryelaine.com/thankyou
Author's Books: HERE, on Amazon
Main Site: sherryelaine.com/about