If my guess is correct, most of you are like me. You like movies, books and TV shows with happy endings. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer action movies, dramas, animations or romantic comedies, you want a happy ending. Whether it’s the aliens being blown up in “Independence Days” or Woody and the gang being rescued in “Toy Story,” we like it when things work out the way we want. And we are disappointed when they don’t.

Most of us know that life doesn’t always give us a “happy ending,” at least not from our limited perspective. We can’t or don’t always see the big picture. Sometimes it is hard to step back from the tough things going on in our lives to see how everything will work out. And sometimes we don’t think things will ever work out the way we want.

But God gives us a promise in Romans 8:28, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This verse doesn’t say that everything works for the good. It does say that God works for the good of those who love Him and have been called by Him. There is a big difference.

When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37), he must have thought the world had come crashing down upon him. But God used that as the first in a whole series of events to put Joseph in a position to save his family. Joseph realized that when he told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20) Talk about a happy ending!

My Mom was diagnosed with cancer in late August or early September of 1976. My Dad was someone who went to church when he wasn’t working on Sundays, but didn’t seem to me to have a strong faith. Dad had two choices after Mom was diagnosed. He could get angry with God or turn to God for help. Fortunately my Dad took the second path and became a man of prayer. His faith came alive. About a year later when Dad had a major heart attack, he had the faith to face it. Dad died of cancer in November of 1978. But he died in faith. Even though I wish my Dad would have lived longer, knowing that He is in Heaven with the Lord is definitely a happy ending.

Some of the keys to a happy ending are to trust God, allowing Him to work, and giving Him “Thanks” for working things out for our good because He loves us and calls us to be His own. November is “Thanksgiving” month. You may not feel very thankful right now, but you can put your trust in Him. I Chronicles 16:34 tells us, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Because God’s love for us lasts forever, we know that we will have a happy ending at the end of our lives, a happy ending that is really a new beginning.

So if you’re going through a tough time right now, remember God is working for the ultimate good in your life. If things are going well for you right now, remember to thank God because every good gift comes from God.  By the way, if you want to see a movie with a “Happy Ending,” go see the movie “Mighty Macs.”

Larry Courson