Gò0dNews for Everyone
God Can Use Your Tragedy
A
by Bill Fortenberry
bout fifty years ago, a woman I never met visited
Fifty years later, that student is still a student of God’s
her doctor and learned of a life-altering diagnosis—
Word. He is a father, grandfather, business owner, Bible
she had breast cancer.
study leader, mentor, prayer warrior and encourager. He is
Knowing the difficult road that lay ahead, the woman
the friend who is willing to ask the hard questions—always
and her husband—a pastor we will call Jerry—made a
in love. The Bible study he leads is making a difference
difficult decision. Before he had led churches, Jerry had been
across the community. He keeps a list of people and things
a teacher. The couple needed medical benefits. Yes, they
to pray for, and on his lunch breaks he drives to a quiet
were trusting God, but that teaching certificate was a ready
place and prays through the list.
resource in a time of need. Jerry hung up his pastor hat and took on the role of teacher. The high school where he was hired was in dire straits. Still adjusting to national school desegregation mandates, the school was violence-filled and lawless. Students did not respect each other or their teachers. Jerry must have felt he had left a pasture of grazing sheep for a den of wolves, but you would never know it. He led his class like he led his church. He prayed every day for his work, his fellow teachers and his students. He started a Bible study where both students and teachers could attend. Things began to change and the Bible study grew. Within a year, the violence had subsided. In fact, the
In Genesis Chapter 50, Joseph told his brothers what
two students who had been butting heads and picking fights
they had meant for evil, God had meant for good. In his
had even sat together at a school assembly. Teachers and a
letter to the Romans, Paul challenged them to remember that
legion of students came to follow Christ.
“all things work together for good, for those who love God
One of those students had been kicked out of classrooms left and right. He was a troublemaker, an
and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). If you are in a difficult season, know this: God is at
instigator who had tested the patience of every teacher
work. He is doing something bigger and more far-reaching
who had been asked to teach him. He was smart—brilliant
than you can imagine. You can cry that it is not fair, or you
really—but life’s hard hand had made him bitter. In a
can trust God. Your decision could make a difference in
last-ditch effort to help him graduate, he was assigned to
thousands of lives for generations to come.
the pastor’s class. Before the year was up, the heart of that led him to putting his faith in Jesus.
36 // July 2021
About The Author
bitter teenager had softened. It was Jerry who pointed and
Bill Fortenberry worked 17 years as a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist, and has worked in healthcare communications since 2001. Bill serves as the chairman of the board of managers of Haven Health Clinic for Women and is a men’s ministry leader and small group facilitator at his church, HBC Rome. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Ethan and Autumn. A storyteller at heart, Bill writes an occasional blog at kudzudad.blogspot.com.
