I love a good mystery. And I bet many of you are gobbling up great summer suspense novels while sipping tea poolside or taking in the latest suspense movie while downing lots of buttery popcorn. What fun! But I’m here to tell you about a suspenseful story that I read recently.

It’s found in 2nd Samuel, and I think it illustrates how God often “sets us up” for what seems like a bad situation, only to turn it into a good better situation than we’re currently experiencing.

In 2 Samuel 10, King David had sent his army to honor and be a comfort to the nearby Ammonite king, Hunan, whose father had just died. David had a good relationship with this new king’s father, but the new king didn’t trust David. So King Hunan cut off half of the beards and “garments in the middle at the buttocks” of David’s army—sending them marching back half-naked and humiliated. Hunan realized he’d angered David with this act. So, war broke out, and David and his army were triumphant, causing all of the neighboring people to be at peace with him and be subject to his kingdom in Israel.

God used a bad circumstance to bring about a greater good for David. He established David’s reign—not just in his own kingdom but also in the neighboring kingdoms.

David might not have seen this as a good thing at first or as a way that God was “setting him up” for victory.

But with the help of perspective, I can see it.

Can you?

Do you need that kind of perspective in your life right now?

• Are you wondering if God is ever going to change your spouse or improve your marriage because things keep getting worse and worse? Then, hold on!
• Are you wondering if God knows what he’s doing with a particular situation that seems clearly to be a “bad thing”? Then, hold on!
• Are you feeling like giving up because you can’t take this pain any longer? Then, hold on!

God has a plan for you (and me), and it’s a good one, but like any good story, it’s full of mystery and suspense! So just hold on!

“… I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 (Message)