Romans 8:28

One of my favourite verses in the entire Bible is Romans 8:28: ”And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Whenever I am going through a difficult time and I cannot see any part of God’s plan for my life, when all seems dark and without hope when I am at the end of my rope, then I can look at this verse and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God will turn that thing, that situation, around and make it work together for my good!

The first thing I noticed about this verse is the word “know”. This indicates to me that it is beyond doubts; it is a confirmed, known fact and will definitely come to pass.

The second is the word “all”. Note that this does not say “some things”, or “good things”, or “inspiring things”, but instead: ALL things. Whether it seems to be good, bad or indifferent in our own eyes has no bearing on the outcome that God can bring from this testing trial that is besetting us right now, God can and will work it together for our good!

The next are the words “work together for good”. When a carpenter works a piece of wood he carves, bends, sands and chisels it until it becomes what he wants it to become. The block of wood goes through a trial at the time and the “working” is not pleasant at all, but when it has become a beautiful oak cabinet the results of all that work are obvious for all to see! In the same way God is shaping us into the vessels He wants us to be. Like Paul we need to look forward at the end result. (James 1:12)

And then lastly comes the condition, “to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” There is always a condition to receiving God’s blessing and miraculous provision. From having Naaman wash in the Jordan (2Kings 5:10), to the blind man washing the mud off his eyes (John 9:6&7), God always has a condition for us to fulfil.

So the good news is this, when we are at our lowest point, when we feel like we cannot go on, consol yourself with the fact that God is busy working in your life, you are not a completed work yet, then you can also: “… count it all joy when you fall into various trials,” (James 1:2 LITV) even if we have to grit our teeth and “count it all joy” despite our tears!

Happy are those who remain faithful under trials, because when they succeed in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 (GNB)