“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
It’s easy to recognize God’s hand when life goes well—a promotion, a new baby, a financial blessing. But what about when things go wrong? How can God possibly bring good out of illness, betrayal, or loss?
In When Your Days Are Dark, God Is Still Good, Gary Zimak—bestselling author of Give Up Worry for Lent!—draws on personal stories and scripture to show how God remains present even in suffering, using our trials to shape us into holier, more compassionate people.
St. Paul’s bold confidence in God’s providence was rooted in experience: he had endured great hardship and found the Lord faithful. Zimak reflects on Paul’s witness and on other biblical stories that reveal how God brings good from pain, including:
-
Adam and Eve disobeying God—He did not abandon them but sent His Son to redeem their sin
-
Lazarus’s death—Jesus’s miracle of raising him brought many to faith
-
The disciples on the road to Emmaus—in their sorrow, they met the risen Lord in the breaking of the bread
-
Hagar’s rejection by Sarah—God heard her cry and made her son the father of a great nation
-
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—their steadfast faith led to King Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion after God preserved them from the flames
-
The apostles in the upper room—Jesus appeared to them in fear and gave them peace through the Holy Spirit
Each chapter concludes with reflection questions and a prayer, helping readers draw closer to the God who brings light even in life’s darkest hours.
About the Author
Gary Zimak is a Catholic speaker and bestselling author of numerous books, including Give Up Worry for Lent!, Let Go of Anger and Stress!, Give Up Worry for Good!, Let Go of Your Fear, and Find Peace in Advent!. He is the host of the Following the Truth podcast and a frequent guest on national Catholic media.
Zimak previously served as director of parish services at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Catholic Church in North Wales, Pennsylvania, and hosted Spirit in the Morning on Holy Spirit Radio. His work has appeared in Catholic Digest, National Catholic Register, Catholic Exchange, Catholic Philly, and Catholic Answers Magazine.
He has been featured on EWTN’s Bookmark, Seize the Day with Gus Lloyd, Women of Grace, Catholic Answers Live, and Morning Air. A graduate of Drexel University with a degree in business administration, Zimak lives in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, with his wife and their two children.
