All things work together for good!” (Romans 8:28). This has been my favourite Bible text since I was a little girl and lost my mother, at age six, when a drunk driver took her life.
So, how did God bring good out of this? I experienced trauma from a harsh (though I now know caring) father—plenty. In time, however, I gained a stepmother, who although not really maternally loving in a way that I hoped or expected, was a wonderful, capable lady and a wise guide. She did care, and because she was a highly organised lady, taught me many helpful skills for manoeuvring through life in a successful way.
With the helpful support she gave me, the trauma I had been through and, in the background, a very loving mother in my earliest years, I became ideally qualified to train and work as a clinical psychologist. It is such a blessing for clients to have a therapist who not only intellectually knows the strategies for rising above their issues, but has also personally experienced, on an emotional level, the trauma they have been through.
And many times, God’s providence has worked things together for my good in smaller ways. For example, some years back I visited my brother in Darwin, NT. I then intended to fly to Port Hedland, WA, and take a bus down to Perth, in accordance with my special travel permit. However, I had Queensland time on my watch and so missed the plane I was meant to catch from Darwin. This mishap, however, led to a fortunate turn of events! On the next flight I was offered to sit with the pilot who was to fly the next leg.
That pilot was very kind and helpful to me. He organised a change in my travel permit so that, without extra cost, I was able to fly on direct from Port Hedland to Perth.
Although we will face challenges in our lifetimes, our Lord works in many marvellous ways and brings surprising blessings to our lives every day.
I trust that you also may have an awareness of His blessings in your life. Oh, for the grace to trust Him more!
Rowena Joy Hallam is a clinical psychologist and former lecturer at Avondale University.
