Do you love God? Have you been called into a saving relationship with Him, by grace through faith?
Then, Christian, you need to know something.
Really know it.
YOU need to KNOW that right now God is working all things together for your good.
You heard that right.
All things.
That job.
Those people.
That place.
Those circumstances.
He’s working for your good and His glory in your life in this very moment.
It’s a go-to promise you’ve most likely heard over and over again. You may have even pulled it out a few times to counsel and encourage others. Some of you probably have it framed and displayed within view of where you’re sitting right now.
But for some reason, you’re having a hard time believing it for yourself.
All things. For your good.
Please don’t misunderstand – Paul, the author of Romans, is not saying that bad things are good. And this verse doesn’t even promise that your job, those people, that place, or those circumstances are going to get any better (for context, check out the rest of Romans 8: Paul just finished talking about present sufferings, weakness, and futility… and he’s about to speak of tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword).
What Paul is saying is that God promises a new life – a gloriously transformed life – in Him through the hope of the gospel.
An encounter with Jesus changes everything.
It changes our perspective, our priorities, and our purpose in the here and now…
What I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this
Knowing you, Jesus, knowing you,
There is no greater thing…
-Robin Mark
… and it secures the glory that will be revealed (Romans 8:18).
For those who are in Christ Jesus, it means that nothing can separate us from His love. It means we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Rom. 8:37-39)… and that’s worth far more than any “good” worldly circumstance could ever achieve for us or in us.
If you’re not yet seeing evidence of His goodness in your current situation, remember that God has great purpose far beyond what our eyes can see.
Don’t miss the continuation of this verse: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose, for those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.”
He chose us – secured us for all time – to be His. He redeems – bringing beauty from ashes – and is constantly working to conform us to His image, because He knows what is best for us much more than we could possibly know for ourselves.
Are you stuck in the waiting, looking for the good?
“It all works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out yet, then it’s not the end.” – Max Lucado
Hold on tight, God is at work and He hasn’t missed a thing. His victory is sure. His glory will be revealed. And one day when Christ appears, we will be like Him.
At His feet,
And while he is working we should be working to conform to the image of his son! Growing in knowledge and truth!
Cindy,
Thank you so much for sharing and joining us on the blog today! Yes, we are all a work in progress and growing in truth and knowledge daily. God Bless You!
May I asked anyone of you to pray for me:
1) pray for my husband, he don’t go to church anymore
2) pray as I seek God’s will, I am able to see it and the courage to obey Him.
I see this verse as representing past as well as future. Since I have been Loving God & I am called according to His purposes then I can have faith instead of guilt.