The Enemy Meant to Destroy Me

You Turned It Into Glory!

Have you ever faced a hardship so devastating, a betrayal so deep, or an illness so crippling that it felt like the enemy was winning? We all know what it feels like to be targeted, attacked, and overwhelmed by circumstances that seem determined to tear us down.

But the good news of the Gospel offers a stunning reversal: The enemy meant it for destruction, but God meant it for glory.

This is not a feel-good slogan; it is a foundational truth woven throughout the entirety of Scripture. It is the testimony of a God whose power turns the deepest darkness into the brightest light.

1. The Power of Perspective: Joseph’s Defining Moment

Perhaps the most dramatic illustration of this principle comes from the life of Joseph, recorded in the book of Genesis. Joseph was the victim of profound evil: betrayed by his own brothers, sold into slavery, and later falsely imprisoned.

The brothers’ intent was simple: destroy the dreamer (Genesis 37:20). Yet, decades later, when Joseph had become the second-most powerful man in Egypt, he comforted his fearful brothers with this profound statement:

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20)

Notice the distinction: God didn't just fix the situation; He redeemed it. He utilized the very malice, the very betrayal, and the very suffering intended for Joseph’s destruction to elevate him and, in the process, save the entire lineage of Israel—the family through whom the Messiah would be born.

2. The Blueprint of Redemptive Sovereignty

What Joseph experienced is a pattern God applies to all who belong to Him. This truth is cemented in one of the most comforting verses in the Bible:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

The "all things" includes the heartache, the job loss, the false accusation, and the attacks of spiritual opposition. The enemy’s schemes are not outside God’s control. Instead, God takes the broken pieces—the painful circumstances—and, through His perfect and powerful will, reassembles them into something that ultimately conforms us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).

The destruction the enemy intended becomes the tool for our transformation.

3. The Ultimate Reversal: The Cross of Christ

We cannot truly understand this principle without looking at the center of our faith: the Cross.

The forces of darkness and the wicked men of the age orchestrated the execution of Jesus Christ. From the enemy’s perspective, this was the ultimate victory—the destruction of God’s Son and the end of His Kingdom.

But God, in His perfect plan, took the greatest act of evil ever committed and turned it into the greatest act of glory and salvation. The Cross, a symbol of destruction and shame, became the source of eternal life, forgiveness, and hope for every single person who believes.

The empty tomb confirms it: What the enemy meant for destruction, God turned into eternal glory!

Living in the Reality of Reversal

If you are currently walking through fire, take heart. Your trial is not wasted. The attacks against you are not sovereign; our God is sovereign!

Whenever the enemy launches an attack against your peace, your family, or your calling, remember the promise of your God. He is busy working behind the scenes, ensuring that the very thing meant to crush you will instead be used to:

• Refine Your Faith (1 Peter 1:6-7)

• Deepen Your Character (Romans 5:3-5)

• Display His Power (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Trust the God who takes the ashes and exchanges them for beauty. Trust the God who takes the destructive plots of the enemy and turns them into lasting glory—both for you and for His Kingdom.

How has God turned a moment of "destruction" in your life into a testimony of His "glory"? Share your story below!