We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
It’s a popular verse and one that doesn’t typically break-in to the conscientiousness of one going through a genuine trial from somebody using it as a platitude… but it’s still true.
We know…
Our faith in Jesus has got to be rock solid, and it should be. Troubles in our lives reveal the genuine nature of our faith. We have to choose to get bitter or get better. We press into Christ or we run away. It’s in the days when life isn’t falling apart that we have to be shoring up our belief. We need to be in God’s Word and on our face in prayer constantly, not just daily. If your only interaction with Jesus is a casual prayer when it’s convenient, a “verse-of-the-day” Bible app, and then church 2-3 times a month, forget it. The storm will hit and your spiritual life will be damaged beyond repair. We’ve got to KNOW before the rain comes.
all things…
This includes your current circumstance. The job that you didn’t get. The person who left you. The physical, mental, emotional struggle that you’re going through, all of it, each of them. “All things” is a fairly inclusive phrase and you don’t even have to get into “the Greek” to realize that. There is nothing outside the realm of this description. What you’re dealing with today, next week, next month, next year, that’s included.
work together…
“Work” is a process, it’s progressive, it’s not all at once. “Together” means that any one thing is not the whole picture without the rest. When life is throwing you lemons, hold on, wait, it’s incomplete. There are things in your past and things in your future that God will join in the fabric of your soul to make something beautiful, don’t quit before He’s done, the masterpiece of your life is still in process. Trust Him enough to keep going.
for the good…
What makes something “good?” Unfortunately it’s all to easy to mistranslate “good” as “what I want.” This passage does not promise that if we hold on long enough and if we have adequate faith, we’ll eventually get whatever we wish for… that’s Disney, not Jesus. God’s concerned with something much better for us, what is actually “good.” Our purpose is to be conformed to the image of His Son, that’s “good.” We can’t be like Jesus without loss, suffering, disappointment, and those whom we love turning against us. We can’t be like our Messiah without opportunities for giving, endurance, encouraging others, and pouring ourselves out for others. These things are not good in and of themselves, in fact, they stink. But God uses them for your good, there is a purpose to our suffering.
those who love God…
Do you love God? It seems like an easy question to answer “of course I do!?” It may even seem a little offensive to be asked that question. If we love God, then He is enough. If we truly love Him, and not just what we think He will give us, then when life’s troubles come against us, we don’t have to be disappointed because things didn’t go the way we’d hoped, we still have God. We aren’t loving God as a kind of trick to get our wishes granted, as though Jesus is a cosmic genie. God is enough. When things don’t seem to go our way, it’s not even that we endure because we don’t need more than God Himself (which, of course, we don’t), it’s better than that. We have the promise of “good” beyond our relationship with God, and that’s amazing!
who are called according to His purpose.
God has called you in accordance with His purpose. The reason you are His child is because you are part of his plan. Everything is going to work together for good, but also for YOUR good. Hang in there. Hold on. It’s not happening for no reason. It’s not meaningless. God is for you! Who can be against you?
