Good morning, friends.

Let’s be honest—sometimes life just doesn’t make sense. We go through pain, betrayal, disappointment, and it’s so easy to wonder, “Why is this happening?” We pray for things to go one way, but they turn out another. Doors close. People let us down. We suffer setbacks we never saw coming. If you’ve ever felt confused or frustrated by life, you’re not alone.

But I want to talk today about a truth that runs through all of scripture, and all of our lives: Everything happens according to God’s plan.

Now, that doesn’t mean everything that happens is easy. It doesn’t mean we always get what we want, or that bad things are somehow good. But it does mean that God is wiser than we are. He sees the whole picture, when we only see a little piece. His plan is deeper, richer, and more full of grace than anything we could ever come up with ourselves.

Let’s look at the story of Jesus—specifically, the night He was betrayed. Jesus had poured His life into teaching, healing, loving. He chose twelve disciples to walk with Him, and one of them, Judas, betrayed Him for a handful of silver. Jesus was arrested, tortured, and killed—executed by both religious and political leaders who saw Him as a threat. On the surface, it looked like everything had gone wrong. His friends ran away. His enemies seemed to win.

But here’s the thing: none of it was a surprise to God. In fact, Jesus told His disciples beforehand that it would happen. He said, “The Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” He knew what was coming, and He walked straight into it—because it was part of God’s plan.

Now, if you or I were writing the story, we’d probably skip the betrayal. We’d skip the suffering, the heartbreak, the cross. But if that had happened—if Jesus had never been betrayed, never suffered, never died—then we wouldn’t know the forgiveness and hope we have today. Because through that darkest moment, God brought unimaginable light. Jesus’ death wasn’t just a tragedy; it was the doorway to grace. His resurrection turned the world upside down, and opened the way for all of us to be forgiven and set free.

God’s plan is wise. Sometimes it leads us through blessings, and sometimes through hard lessons. But those lessons aren’t there to hurt us—they’re there to teach us, to shape us, to help us grow. Think about it: the times when you struggled, when you were forced to rely on God, when you didn’t know how things would work out—those are often the moments when your faith got real. When you learned to trust, to wait, to forgive, to hope again.

But it’s not always just about us. Sometimes, the things we go through aren’t only for our benefit, but for someone else’s. Maybe God is using your journey to encourage another person. Maybe you’re crossing paths with someone who needs to see faith in action. Maybe your story, your scars, your willingness to keep going—maybe that’s exactly what someone else needs to witness. Because God’s plan isn’t just about individuals; it’s about all of us, woven together in ways we can’t always see.

It’s like a tapestry. When you look at the back, it’s a mess of knots and loose threads. It doesn’t look like anything beautiful. But when you turn it over, you see the picture. God is weaving something beautiful with our lives, even when we only see the tangled side.

There’s a verse in Romans that says, “And 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. But God works through all things—good and bad, joy and pain—to bring about His purpose.

So what do we do with this? How do we live, knowing that everything happens according to God’s plan?

First, we trust. Even when it hurts. Even when we’re confused. We hold onto the truth that God is good, that He loves us, and that He’s working, even in the dark.

Second, we learn. We ask God what He wants to teach us through every season—the blessings and the lessons. We let Him shape our hearts, grow our character, and deepen our faith.

And third, we look for ways our story can bless others. We ask, “God, how can You use what I’m going through to help someone else? Who are You putting in my path today?”

Friends, you may never get all the answers you want. You may always wonder why certain things happened. But you can know this: nothing is wasted in God’s hands. Not your pain, not your questions, not even your failures. God is at work in all of it, weaving blessing and meaning, if we’re willing to trust Him.

So when you face something you don’t understand, remember Jesus. Remember the cross. Remember that out of the worst thing came the best thing. Out of death came life. Out of darkness, light. If God can redeem that, He can redeem anything.

Let’s pray.

God, give us the faith to trust Your plan, even when we don’t understand. Help us to see that You are always working, always loving, always guiding us—through blessings and lessons, through joy and sorrow. Use our lives, Lord, not just for our own good, but to bless others and bring glory to You. Thank You for weaving our stories into Your great story of redemption and hope. Amen.