The story is told of a king who had a close friend with whom he 
grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that 
ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is
good!"

One day the king and his friend were on a hunting expedition. The
friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. In preparing one of
the guns, the friend had apparently done something wrong, for after taking the
gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.

Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is
good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to
send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in a dangerous area.
Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands,
stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to it. As they approached
to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb.
Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So
after untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his
thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went
immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. You were right," he said, "it
was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend
all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to
jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"

"What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent
my friend to jail for a year?"

"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."


Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but
the promise of God is clear. If we love him and live our lives according
to his precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will be
turned by God for His glory and our benefit. Hold on...God is
faithful!

Author Unknown