Perhaps one of the most powerful and comprehensive statements in all of Holy Scripture is found in Romans 8:28 (NKJV) –

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Yet there is a limitation in this statement that Paul asserts. One that must be clarified from the very beginning. Paul does not say “all things work together for good” for everyone. Instead, all things work together for good only to “those who love God” from a human perspective or from a divine perspective, only “to those who are who are the called according to His purpose.” This comes forth in the original Greek text, “and we know that to the ones loving God all things work together for good.” By putting “the ones loving God” at the beginning there can be no misunderstandings. It may seem at times that non-believers are the prosperous and happy ones and that the sun seems to be shinning on them, but we cannot forget what Scripture says about their state and position before Holy God. They are under “the wrath of God” (Rom 1:18). Were it not for the “kind intention of His will” (Eph 1:5) to save us, we too would be under His divine wrath.

But there is something else to note about this marvelous statement and that is this: not all things are good, but all things work together for good. What do I mean by that? Not all things are good in and of themselves. We live in a world where men “call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Is 5:20). If that were not enough, take a close look at your own heart. You may find yourself saying like Paul, “I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate” (Rom 7:15). “The good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do no want” (v. 19). The truth is my beloved, that “evil is present in me” (v. 21).

Not all things are good, but all things work together for good. And who accomplishes this working together for good? God does. He is the One who not only made everything, sustains everything, but also controls everything!

This is a glorious truth my beloved! Do you know that as a Christian all things are working together for good for you? Do you know that God is orchestrating His sovereign providence for good in your life?

“All things” – that includes “all things,” literally. That includes those things that can be deemed as good things, favorable things as well as those things that may seem to be bad for us, things that discourage us, things that are disheartening. He means all things. Good things, bad things, trials, troubles, tribulations, illnesses, accidents, disappointments, even failure. That is the character and nature of our God. It is a most staggering statement!

It is precisely at those moments when we are struggling and battling against problems and difficulties where we must stop and consider this most staggering promise. In this sense, it is good that we are suddenly interrupted in our routine of life so that we may consider this promise my beloved.

If you are like me, problems and difficulties, reveal my weaknesses, my utter frailty, and smallness. I realize that I cannot live life without God. I cannot move another step without Him. Do I really expect to go through life without coming across something so upsetting? But I want to be strong; I do not want to be weak. But when I am weak, then I am strong. It is in experiencing these difficulties that I recognize my inability to live life on my own. I need God! And it is quite humbling to say the least because it is at those times that I realize that I do not know everything. All I need to know and trust is that God is working all things for good in my life.

If you are like me, I have often complained and grumbled in my own heart and wondered why God has allowed this or that trial to happen in my life. Then I become aware of my own sinfulness. Even then, my trial, has brought me to the end of myself and humbled me. And that my beloved is good place to be. To be brought low and humbled, is a good thing for us. It is already working good in my life.

If you are like me, I have harbored unworthy thoughts about the God of love who has done so much for me. And I need to be forgiven. I need His forgiveness. I need His help. I need His strength.

You see my beloved, these troubles, difficulties, illnesses, sins (remember “all things“), draw us back to God. In these moments, we discover things about God we never knew before. Perhaps we come to realize how high, how wide, and how deep is His love for us. For He comforts us and causes us to grow.

It is good that we go through sufferings, for we come to know at a deeper level, the love and grace of God, His kindness, His compassion, His tenderness, His patience, His longsuffering. These are the moments where we are preparing for eternity, to know Him more fully and more deeply in the here and now.

It is at those times when I am sick, when I cannot even sleep, when I am disheartened by the evil in the world, let alone the evil in me, that I am reminded about life and its true nature. I am here for a short time. This is not my home. And so I embrace those things that make me think more of the glory to which I am bound, by God’s grace and kindness. Glory awaits for those who love God; to those who are the called according to His purpose. We must look beyond the trials and look for the ultimate purpose, look for the ultimate end and trust that God knows what He is doing – He is causing all things to work together for good. Not just our immediate good (whatever may happen on this side of glory), but still more for our ultimate and final good (that is the other side of glory).