I have a question. If, according to scripture, God works all things together for my good, then why hasn't everything seemed that great? That's a question people can end up asking after someone quotes Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." I appreciate the encouragement, but I wonder if something is lost in translation. I mean, has everything always gone right for you? Is it really good that your parents got divorced? Is it good that my childhood friend was sexually abused or that my best friend lost her job? Is it good that my neighbor's girlfriend died in a car wreck? Is it really good that all this bad stuff has happened, and still happening? Do things always turn out good for you? Then what's happening?
Too often we pray for God to take away our suffering. We beg for difficult situations to be resolved. Most of us even believe God's promise is a trouble-free life. May I say, that path leads to disappointment in an unbiblical God! God isn't passionately orchestrating a pain-free life. He isn't rooting out problems so you can float through life. God is going after the sin in your life! His good purpose is to shape who you are. A good life isn't a trouble-free experience. It's a resolute character in a shaky world. Romans 8:29 continues this message from 8:28 when Paul reminds us of the original destiny for human beings: conformity to the image of God's son. We are to embody His faithfulness in a faithless world. Christ-followers persevere when others shrink under pressure. We return evil with love. We give while other people just demand. We reenact the way of Jesus. At least, that is what is required of us as we conform day by day to become more Christ-like.
We need to stop trying to escape from problems in life. Trying times have the power to break us down, however, in the same breath, we can be built back up like Christ. All things eventually do work together for our good though we may not see it at the time. Let's stop asking for tough times to end quickly when perseverance is what God wants. The easy life won't give us the good God is working toward. The good character God is forming in us takes shape in difficult circumstances. Learn from what's gone wrong. Consider disappointments and failures as life lessons in order to learn from them and make things better next time. Instead of losing control, learn, learn, and learn some more. BE PATIENT. Everything will eventually be okay. Sometimes it happens right then, but other times you may not understand for many years but when you do, you'll realize what you went through, regardless of how bad it was at the time, was actually a good thing that it took place.
Paul, who was beaten several times and imprisoned more than once said, “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12). But Finding contentment in difficult circumstances is difficult for even the most stouthearted believer. When times are tough and things aren’t going the way we plan, this is a fertile ground for frustration, despair, and discouragement to take root. That is why we need Christ's strength to teach us to be content in every condition. As believers, we have been given the specific ability to find contentment whatever the circumstance, which Paul argues can only come from Christ who gives him strength.
So the next time you quote Romans 8:28 (or any other verse for that matter), make sure you start with a statement about the context. Then you won't be giving people false hope that God is working to solve all their problems and prevent future tragedies. You'll give them the truth. God is working to form people in the middle of a broken world with all its problems and unresolved pain. That's good.
Until He Comes,
-Pat-
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