We at Charismamag.com recently posted an article titled, “Stop Saying God Works Out Everything for God’s Good’ to Those Grieving Right Now.” I’m not so sure that’s the best piece of advice.

Like the writer of the article, my wife and I too went through a miscarriage at one point (and we thought, because of her age, we would never be able to conceive). It eventually took four years overall for us to conceive and have a child.

When you are going through infertility problems, yes, you don’t want to hear anything like, “buck up” (yes that was an actual quote from a church friend of ours, believe it or not) or that everything is going to be alright if we simply stop worrying about it.

Even if you are a believer, it is very difficult for anyone to console you during a time like that, or when a loved one passes away. You simply don’t want to hear it. But you know what? God does work things out for the good of those who love Him, and it’s good for people who are grieving to be reminded of that.

Scripture is the best medicine here. The reason I say that is because it’s not what you may want to hear, but it’s what you need to hear. My wife and I indeed heard that scripture, and we were still disheartened. But, if we hadn’t heard it, then we wouldn’t have taken steps to get over our grief and move on.

After that, we decided that we would finally leave our fertility problems at God’s feet and leave it there instead of picking it back up again. We decided to trust Him totally because we knew that we certainly couldn’t fix the problem. It had to be God.

And, when we did lay it at his feet and leave it there, taking our minds off of the situation, then God blessed us with not only our first child, our beautiful Rachel, but also a second child in our wonderful Joshua. They are teens now, and they are a blessing and a joy (sometimes a challenge, but that’s a different story).

My point is that people may not want to readily hear that God will work things out for His good. All they know is that it hurts, and the hurt won’t go away. But, the optimum phrase here is “His good.” It’s all His anyway. And if you put your trust in the Lord, the hurt WILL go away. I guarantee it.

“But, if we hadn’t heard it, then we wouldn’t have taken steps to get over our grief and move on.”

Children are His gift that He gives us, and we are simply stewards of that gift. So, you have to believe that our wonderful and almighty God, our sovereign and omnipotent God, knows what He is doing in your life. He WILL work it out for your good; you simply have to trust Him. Yes, you will grieve, and it’s normal and healthy to grieve. Allow yourself to do that.

But also know that God has your back and that He will work it out for HIS good, which is YOUR good. Put your trust in Him in EVERY situation. He will honor that.

And remember to do something to rise up higher in your calling today.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (MEV): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

Step Out of the Boat is a ministry created by Charisma Media Content Development Editor Shawn A. Akers and dedicated to help Christ followers to become spiritual champions and come to a more intimate relationship with Jesus. With its articles, podcasts and other forms of media, Step Out of the Boat encourages Christ followers to daily reach to a higher level in their calling.

Shawn A. Akers is content development editor at Charisma Media. He is a 30-year veteran sportswriter, a published poet and he published a story about Dale Earnhardt in NASCAR Chicken Soup for the Soul. You can read his blog here. You can also listen to his podcasts, the Javelin Sports Show, on the Charisma Podcast Network.