Galatians 1:15, 16a, 23, 24

This is a bit strange to contemplate, but the ways of the Lord are mysterious and this proves it, i think.

15 "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 to reveal his Son in me..."

23 "... they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me."

Now here is the strange part. The passage suggests both predestination and free will. God chose Paul and separated him out from the time he was in his mother's womb. On the other hand, Paul did not always do God's will -- he persecuted the church, killing many. This seems like an exercise in free will, no? Yet, this led to the greater glory of God. So did God separate him out from the earliest possible moment in order to persecute the church AND repent thus bringing God greater glory?

So then, (for the application) can we never know what action of ours, what trial we suffer through, is ordained of God? Do we look at even our failings, our sins, as points through which grace may abound? Certainly Paul would say (he did say) that we should not sin that grace may abound. But having sinned (and, really, who hasn't?) what do you make of it? In what way does your sin get turned into God's glory? I guess this is one of those making lemonade from lemons things, no?