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God Will Use This for Good: Surviving the Mess of Life
Does it ever feel like life is out of control? Could you use the reminder that God is in control?
When tragedy strikes, people desperately search for answers. Believers and unbelievers alike find themselves turning to God. Bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado tells us that though it may not be quick or painless, God will use this mess for good.
In this booklet, Max Lucado will help
Find courage to never give up during turbulent timesTrust God to help you through all of life’s trialsRemember that God will use every painful circumstance for goodScriptures for Your Turbulent Times also included.
When tragedy strikes, people desperately search for answers. Believers and unbelievers alike find themselves turning to God. Bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado tells us that though it may not be quick or painless, God will use this mess for good.
In this booklet, Max Lucado will help
Find courage to never give up during turbulent timesTrust God to help you through all of life’s trialsRemember that God will use every painful circumstance for goodScriptures for Your Turbulent Times also included.
56 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2013
970 people are currently reading
1834 people want to read
About the author
Max Lucado
1,206 books5,478 followersWith more than 150 million products in print and several NYT bestsellers, Max Lucado is America's bestselling inspirational author. He serves the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy. His most recent book published in August 2024 and is titled What Happens Next.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
March 6, 2017
Short and easy to read. An encouraging read reminding us to trust in God even when all seems lost or out of control. We don't always see how God is using the situation straight off but he does. We are not alone and he is very much with us in the pain.
If you need a reminder that God is not beyond sorting out and bringing something out of your mess then spare an hour or so and give this a read.
If you need a reminder that God is not beyond sorting out and bringing something out of your mess then spare an hour or so and give this a read.
May 14, 2016
Non-fiction; Christian Living. Having read a handful of books by Max Lucado, this was not the most impressive offering so far. The message is a good one and relies on the story of Joseph as he not only survived horrible circumstances, but excelled and ultimately saved his family. This was very short and not as thorough as his other writing. So far my favorite has been Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine.
October 29, 2022
I gave three stars, because there was very little content, and it was mostly just Bible verses that I either knew already, or didn’t really feel like reading in a random book and I didn’t buy that for.
April 11, 2018
3/10 (poor): Very disappointing. It’s incredibly short (just a booklet really), but more importantly it’s effectively a Christless answer to the problem of pain and suffering, because at no point does Lucado relate suffering to either fallenness or the cross. His message is simply, “God will use this for your good”, even ignoring the fact that this promise is only given to those who love God and are called according to his purposes. There are far, far better books out there for those who are struggling.
July 18, 2024
Three and half stars.
A simple retelling of the story of Old Testament Joseph.
Joseph was thrown in the pit. He was abandoned by his own family.
In spite of it, God had a plan. But it did not come about in a second. It took time.
So if there is pain, if you find yourself abandoned and unloved, do not worry. It will certainly be painful. But remember that God is in charge. Believe. The change will happen.
This is the crux of the story. And Lucado explains it in four short chapters.
A simple sweet book.
A simple retelling of the story of Old Testament Joseph.
Joseph was thrown in the pit. He was abandoned by his own family.
In spite of it, God had a plan. But it did not come about in a second. It took time.
So if there is pain, if you find yourself abandoned and unloved, do not worry. It will certainly be painful. But remember that God is in charge. Believe. The change will happen.
This is the crux of the story. And Lucado explains it in four short chapters.
A simple sweet book.
April 21, 2023
A very short book, but I was hoping for more.
I’ve read others by Lucado that I’ve loved. This one seemed very basic & a little scattered.
I’ve read others by Lucado that I’ve loved. This one seemed very basic & a little scattered.
December 16, 2023
You’ll get through this. It won’t be painless. It won’t be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime, don’t be foolish or naive but don’t despair either (keep calm and make a plan! simple is good). With God‘s help, you will get through this…
It was all working for my good, nothing is wasted in His hands. What satan intends for evil, God, the Master Weaver and Master Builder, redeems for good.
Short, sweet, encouraging little book. Really pinpoints how to think and trust the Lord’s timing/providence when it feels like you’re stuck in the “in between.”
GOD IS SO GOOD!! The Good Shepherd restores my soul, guides me, and protects me. He is doing that this very second. Wow, I love God🫶
Roman’s 8:28
It was all working for my good, nothing is wasted in His hands. What satan intends for evil, God, the Master Weaver and Master Builder, redeems for good.
Short, sweet, encouraging little book. Really pinpoints how to think and trust the Lord’s timing/providence when it feels like you’re stuck in the “in between.”
GOD IS SO GOOD!! The Good Shepherd restores my soul, guides me, and protects me. He is doing that this very second. Wow, I love God🫶
Roman’s 8:28
November 23, 2021
“The grocery store produce section became a sanctuary of sorts. Right there between the tomatoes and the heads of lettuce she wept. We prayed. And then I said you’ll get through this. It won’t be painless. It won’t be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime don’t be foolish or naïve. But don’t despair either. With gods help you will get through this.”
March 13, 2025
An awesome Reminder
This is book is a must read, it’s simple and to the point , great study about the life of Joseph , and how God is always with us, no matter what we maybe facing . This is great study wither for a self study or something for a small group. It’s easy for even a young person to understand.
This is book is a must read, it’s simple and to the point , great study about the life of Joseph , and how God is always with us, no matter what we maybe facing . This is great study wither for a self study or something for a small group. It’s easy for even a young person to understand.
March 22, 2023
Short and encouraging!
September 10, 2024
Short and to the point but a powerful message nonetheless. God does use it for the good.
January 5, 2021
A brief but powerful read with a clear reminder grounded in Scripture of God's love and provision
April 5, 2024
More of a pamphlet, but a good sermon about adversity and a nice spiritual "booster shot."
December 29, 2023
Super encouraging read. What a simple reminder that the Lord will sustain me through the hard times. Everything is working out for my good and nothing is wasted in His hands! He turns what was meant for evil into good, Genesis 50:20!!
March 3, 2022
Amazing book that points out the example of Joseph and how we might face times of trouble but God can use this for good. Even if it lasts years and years, trust in God and create a plan to overcome the difficulties
June 16, 2023
It’s such a blessing to have these reminders when I so desperately need them. Nothing is too big for God to handle, not even my minuscule life struggles. I needed this book today. 🙏🏼
January 10, 2025
Quick encouragement.
Read
December 28, 2016I have yet to read a book by MAX LUCADO that I didn’t like, and GOD WILL USE THIS FOR GOOD: SURVIVING THE MESS OF LIFE is no exception. As soon as I spotted the title I had to have it. It is in a sense my motto in life. What a great little book to share with others who are struggling with the valleys in life. GOD WILL USE THIS FOR GOOD: SURVIVING THE MESS OF LIFE may be small in pages, yet it is huge in content. Would make a great idea for a Bible study, and cheap enough to purchase one for each person.
August 2, 2015
Max Lucado has long ago established himself as a master story-teller and I expect that when I read one of his books. To me, he has that unique ability to make Bible stories and Christian concepts relatable to anyone. This book uses a few of the hardships Joseph encountered during his life as told in the book of Genesis and relates them to how we can handle difficulties we might be facing today. This is short book but Lucado writes it in an encouraging manner.
April 13, 2018
This book was really great at guiding me through the process of getting through something hard. I couldn't really say I disliked anything about this book. It went into detail about how to make a plan and how to trust it will work. Another really great thing about this book is that it told witness talks and gave advice through a story aspect. It really helped me with anxiety and learning how to deal with it.
September 17, 2022
This was great, it was more of a novella. So it was a quick read. And it went over some deep topics that were so interesting. It was like a balm to my soul. I would highly suggest it. Especially if you like the quote ‘Keep calm and carry on’
July 11, 2022
Wonderful encouragement to keep going through the difficult.
January 4, 2021
In the introductory prayer, Pastor Lucado notes that the world is dark and that people are on edge. But he assures us that there is still hope. It won’t be easy for us, but with God’s help, we’ll get through this because God uses messes for good. Where we see a mess, God sees a chance to train us, to test us and to teach us.
Pastor Lucado uses the story of Joseph to make his case. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery when he was 17 years old. Yet many years later, after his father Jacob had died, Joseph reassured his worried brothers that he wouldn’t seek revenge for what they had done to him. He told them, “As far as I’m concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil.” Gen. 50: 20 (NLT)
God has given us wisdom, kindness, mercy and skills to help us overcome evil. When the time is right, God will guide us. There are hardships that we can’t avoid, things happen that we can’t undo, but we can make a plan to use these things for good. God is with us and he will show us what he wants us to do in the face of adversity.
In the last two paragraphs of the introductory prayer Lucado wrote, “Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world in your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed and pain. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger. We ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.”
Have faith that God will guide us and protect us in this year ahead and use the problems we’re experiencing now for good. Let us take comfort in the knowledge that God can use this mess for good.
Pastor Lucado uses the story of Joseph to make his case. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery when he was 17 years old. Yet many years later, after his father Jacob had died, Joseph reassured his worried brothers that he wouldn’t seek revenge for what they had done to him. He told them, “As far as I’m concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil.” Gen. 50: 20 (NLT)
God has given us wisdom, kindness, mercy and skills to help us overcome evil. When the time is right, God will guide us. There are hardships that we can’t avoid, things happen that we can’t undo, but we can make a plan to use these things for good. God is with us and he will show us what he wants us to do in the face of adversity.
In the last two paragraphs of the introductory prayer Lucado wrote, “Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world in your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed and pain. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger. We ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.”
Have faith that God will guide us and protect us in this year ahead and use the problems we’re experiencing now for good. Let us take comfort in the knowledge that God can use this mess for good.
May 9, 2017
Short. Very short. A sermon, really; replete with a call-to-action invitation. Very well done, however, and encouraging. I love how he weaved the story of Joseph into the theme.
I read this book as I am in the editing stages of my own work: Shaping of a Soul-Diamond, Steel, Clay & Glass. I wanted to see Max's take on dealing with tough circumstances. I was not disappointed. Max has a good scriptural head on his shoulders, despite his fundamental critics. Plus (and more importantly), Max has a heart. God loves people with hearts like Max.
My only criticism is the length. I truly feel it can fleshed out more. Perhaps this is just one issue of a series of books and I need to search a bit for the others. In that case, I would rather spend $9.99 on one complete work that thoroughly exhausts the subject within a framework of one work than to find and digest 4 or 5 shorter works at $2.99. Maybe I am alone in this. I can see the appeal of a short read (under an hour for me). In this hustle-bustle world we live in, encouragement in sips is better than none at all.
I recommend this read to anyone who struggles with a major setback. It provides encouragement and heart, understanding and hope. It does not white-wash the truth. It will be hard. It will not be quick. Be steady, trust in God. Good advice for a world full of hurt and disappointment.
I read this book as I am in the editing stages of my own work: Shaping of a Soul-Diamond, Steel, Clay & Glass. I wanted to see Max's take on dealing with tough circumstances. I was not disappointed. Max has a good scriptural head on his shoulders, despite his fundamental critics. Plus (and more importantly), Max has a heart. God loves people with hearts like Max.
My only criticism is the length. I truly feel it can fleshed out more. Perhaps this is just one issue of a series of books and I need to search a bit for the others. In that case, I would rather spend $9.99 on one complete work that thoroughly exhausts the subject within a framework of one work than to find and digest 4 or 5 shorter works at $2.99. Maybe I am alone in this. I can see the appeal of a short read (under an hour for me). In this hustle-bustle world we live in, encouragement in sips is better than none at all.
I recommend this read to anyone who struggles with a major setback. It provides encouragement and heart, understanding and hope. It does not white-wash the truth. It will be hard. It will not be quick. Be steady, trust in God. Good advice for a world full of hurt and disappointment.
February 10, 2024
An extremely short work even by Lucado standards. But nonetheless still obviously touched by his gift for making complex ideas simple and presenting memorable ways of encountering freshness in well-worn biblical passages.
Would be a good book for churches to have on hand to give to people who are going through grief or hard times.
Lucado remains an easy target for some because of what seems like surface-level writing without hard theological depths. Perhaps there’s a little bit of truth to some of those critiques. But, he always seems to write like a pastor, which is both an explanation and more-than-adequate apologetic for the style of writing he has consistently offered.
There are plenty of theologians writing books, but not enough people whose pen is so pastoral that it makes you feel like you’re sitting with them listening to them counsel you while you read. Lucado fills that gap with remarkable grace and ability.
Would be a good book for churches to have on hand to give to people who are going through grief or hard times.
Lucado remains an easy target for some because of what seems like surface-level writing without hard theological depths. Perhaps there’s a little bit of truth to some of those critiques. But, he always seems to write like a pastor, which is both an explanation and more-than-adequate apologetic for the style of writing he has consistently offered.
There are plenty of theologians writing books, but not enough people whose pen is so pastoral that it makes you feel like you’re sitting with them listening to them counsel you while you read. Lucado fills that gap with remarkable grace and ability.
May 15, 2017
At the start of this book Max Lucado notes the fact that Jesus was an immigrant (of Egypt when escaping persecution). I fear some modern Christians need reminding of that. He expresses a deep insight into the pain and troubles of others, together with healing sentiments and through the use of his excellent writing skill which, as always, are soaked in love. Lucado employs a poignant use of analogy with Joseph’s story throughout much of this book. He explains the purposes of bad things happening, offers comfort for suffering to those who are able and willing to be aware of it as a part of the ‘big story’ and for those who can’t see that far yet, he offers assurance that in time the worst of it will pass.
March 22, 2019
This is a nice little booklet, really. It is only 56 pages, but brings to life and remembrance the story of Joseph and how he, dumped in a pit by his brothers, mocked and hated, rose to be the ruler. You may not see the light at the end of the tunnel (or your pit of divorce, a scary diagnosis, foreclosure, job loss, family estrangement etc..) but Max Lucado provides insight and examples of how God has brought people "through" throughout the Bible and He will bring you through as well.
There are also scriptures provided for the journey "through" to help you to keep the faith while on the journey.
I recommend this book.
There are also scriptures provided for the journey "through" to help you to keep the faith while on the journey.
I recommend this book.
December 26, 2025
Max Lucado’s God Will Use This for Good takes you deep into the twists of life you never see coming. Joseph’s story reads like a biblical Twilight Zone: betrayed by his brothers, stripped of his coat, and thrown into slavery, he faced a dungeon that should have been the end. But in the shadows, God was quietly at work. Like a Shawshank Redemption of faith, Joseph rose from prisoner to prince, marrying, building a family, and saving the very nation that could have perished. Lucado reminds us, “Sometimes God allows us to go through a mess so we can minister to the mess of others,” and Romans 8:28 assures that in all things, God works for good. This is a book for anyone who needs hope in the dark, proof that even the cruelest twists can lead to triumph beyond imagination.
December 10, 2021
Nope.
I'm not even sure how it ended up in my "to read"-list, but I picked it up as I was curious and it was short. It was alright in the beginning, but as soon as we came to talks about Satan (whom I don't believe in) and the end of the book I just felt icky.
It has a good message and I'm sure it will and has helped a lot of people out there. But for me it did nothing, and was really not my thing.
I'm not even sure how it ended up in my "to read"-list, but I picked it up as I was curious and it was short. It was alright in the beginning, but as soon as we came to talks about Satan (whom I don't believe in) and the end of the book I just felt icky.
It has a good message and I'm sure it will and has helped a lot of people out there. But for me it did nothing, and was really not my thing.
January 23, 2024
This book was a very quick read. I decided to give the book one star because I feel like I did not gain any knowledge on how God uses certain situations for good. I think this book would be great for new followers of Christ who are just learning about how good God is as several Bible verses are used an there is a whole section on Bible verses for different times of your life. Overall, I don’t really know what I learned from this book and it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews