Is God able to use the trials and hard times that you go through for good. Yes he is. He uses them to teach you and to refine you. In Psalm 119:71 the writer says, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees” (NIV). Malachi writes “For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap” (3:2 NIV)
There are two scenes in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone that show us what this looks like. The first is the scene on Halloween where Harry, Ron and Hermione fight the troll. They were faced with a trial that should have ended badly. In fact it did end up getting them into trouble with the authorities. However, in spite of this their ordeal brought them closer and taught them that together they can do anything.
The second example is when Harry, Neville and Hermione are caught trying to help Hagrid get rid of his pet dragon. They are caught because they are betrayed by Draco. Harry, Hermione, Neville and Draco receive detention and they all have points taken away from their houses. This causes Harry to go from being popular and well liked to being ridiculed and even hated because almost everyone believed that he had acted with selfish motives. It caused Hermione to go from somewhat unpopular to really unpopular, but most importantly it broke the arrogance that had plagued her since she arrived at Hogwarts. This is very important because it was this refining that allowed her to do the things that she would need to do throughout the rest of the story.
Always remember this God can and will use what you are going through for good things. However, you must first be willing to follow God’s will and purpose for your life. Paul said it best in Romans, “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” (8:28 NIV). If you are going through trials and you are already a child of God then keep going trusting in the promise that God will use your trials to refine you. If you have not yet put your faith in God, then I simply ask that you do so. Promise Paul gave us in Romans only applies to those who God calls as his own.
Please contact me through my contact page if you would like more information on how to become a child of God.