Everything Is Working for My Good

I remember the day clearly. I had just finished school and was full of dreams about working in broadcasting. My passion was to be on air, to share stories, to connect with people through words and sound. With courage in my heart, I walked into the office of a manager at Radio Nigeria in Ikoyi and made my intention known: “I want to be a presenter.”

His response cut me deep. Without hesitation, he threw me out of his office. His words were harsh, his actions even harsher. I stood outside the office in tears, my confidence shaken. As I sobbed quietly, his secretary came to me, patted my shoulder, and said something that would change everything. She told me not to give up. She encouraged me to walk up to the Executive Director’s office and share my dream with him instead.

At first, I hesitated. “If this man who is only a manager rejected me so cruelly, what chance do I have with the Executive Director?” I asked her. But she insisted. Something in her voice carried faith. And so, I took a leap of courage.

I walked into the Executive Director’s office, shared my story, and told him about my desire to be a presenter. To my surprise, he didn’t dismiss me. Instead, he looked at me with curiosity and respect for my boldness. Right there, he offered me a chance. Two months later, he sent me to training school, where I was formally trained and became a contract staff of Radio Nigeria.

Fate has a sense of humor, because my posting brought me back to the very station where the first manager had rejected me. The look on his face was unforgettable. He asked, half in disbelief, how I managed to get the job. He even hinted at whether I had compromised myself to get the opportunity. I told him plainly, “No, I didn’t.” The same rejection that stung me so badly had turned into the doorway for my destiny.

From there, my career flourished. I moved from being a presenter to a producer, a reporter, a social media manager, a manager, and eventually an Assistant Chief Lecturer at the National Broadcast Academy. That painful rejection became the soil where my purpose grew. Truly, everything was working for my good—even when it didn’t feel like it at first.

The Power of “Everything is Working for My Good”

Life rarely follows the straight lines we imagine. We face rejection, heartbreak, delays, and even outright humiliation. In the moment, these experiences feel like walls shutting us out. But with time and perspective, those very walls can turn out to be doors disguised as obstacles.

The phrase “Everything is working for my good” is not blind optimism. It is a posture of faith, resilience, and trust that life has a bigger picture. When embraced, it gives strength in hard times and courage to keep moving.

Great thinkers and writers across time have shared this same wisdom: setbacks are setups in disguise. Here are five voices that echo this truth.

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1. Napoleon Hill – Think and Grow Rich

Hill believed that every adversity carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit. He wrote, “Every setback, every failure, every heartbreak carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” My story with Radio Nigeria reflects this perfectly. Being thrown out of that office planted the seed that grew into a greater opportunity.

2. Paulo Coelho – The Alchemist

Coelho reminds us that “when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” At times, the universe uses rejection as a tool to redirect us. What looks like an ending may simply be the start of the right journey.

3. Joel Osteen – Your Best Life Now

Osteen emphasizes the idea that disappointments are not final. He often says, “What looks like a setback is really a setup for a comeback.” This is a call to trust that unseen forces are aligning circumstances for our benefit.

4. Viktor Frankl – Man’s Search for Meaning

Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, taught that humans can endure almost anything if they find meaning in it. His insight shows that suffering is never wasted. It can be turned into purpose, hope, and strength. Even rejection has meaning when we see it as part of our growth.

5. Maya Angelou – I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Angelou, with her powerful voice, once said: “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” She understood that challenges are part of the path, and they sharpen the character of those who keep moving forward.

Lessons from Rejection

Looking back, I learned that rejection is not always about us. Sometimes, it is about the other person’s limited vision. That manager could not see my potential, but the Executive Director did. One door closed, but another opened—one that was bigger than I imagined.

Rejection can refine us. It humbles us, toughens us, and pushes us to grow in ways comfort never could. What feels like a breakdown can actually be a breakthrough in progress.

Practical Ways to Live by “Everything is Working for My Good”

1. Reframe setbacks as redirection. Ask, “What could this experience be teaching me?”

2. Stay ready for opportunities. Prepare your skills so that when a door opens, you can walk through with confidence.

3. Surround yourself with encouragers. Just like that secretary encouraged me, find voices that remind you of your worth when you doubt yourself.

4. Trust timing. Delays are not denials. Often, the right opportunity arrives only when you are fully ready.

5. Keep perspective. A single event is not your entire story. Step back and look at the bigger picture.

Five Affirmations to Anchor Your Faith

1. I trust that every experience, good or bad, is working together for my highest good.

2. Rejection is redirection, and every closed door leads me to a better one.

3. I am prepared, resilient, and ready for every opportunity that comes my way.

4. I rise stronger after every setback, knowing my purpose is unfolding perfectly.

5. I walk with faith and courage, confident that everything aligns in my favor.

Conclusion

Life will not always hand us easy victories. Sometimes, it will knock us down and bruise our pride. But when we choose to believe that everything is working for our good, we find strength to get back up.

I walked into Radio Nigeria thinking one man’s approval would define my future. When he rejected me, I thought it was over. But the truth was, his rejection became the doorway to my destiny. From tears in a hallway to a career in broadcasting, I discovered that the universe has a way of turning even the hardest moments into blessings.

So whatever you are facing today—whether it is rejection, delay, or disappointment—hold this truth close: Everything is working for your good.

If this article resonates with you, drop a yes in the comment section below.

Yours truly