One of my favourite verses in the bible is Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” At a camp I went to about a year after getting saved someone wrote it on a patio tile and gave it to me, and said to me always remember every step you take in your walk with God, he will use it for His Glory.
This verse may seem simplistic or even trite. It can be difficult to see how God could possibly work all things together for our good, especially when we’re facing difficult circumstances or dealing with painful emotions. However, when we take a closer look at the context of this verse and its implications, we can see that there is a profound truth being conveyed here.
The book of Romans is one of the most foundational texts in the New Testament, and it is often referred to as Paul’s magnum opus. In chapter 8, Paul is writing to the church in Rome about the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. He emphasizes that those who have been “set free” by the Spirit are now able to live in accordance with God’s will and that they are no longer bound by sin or the fear of death.
It is in this context that Paul writes about God working all things together for good. He is not saying that everything that happens to us is inherently good, or that God causes us to suffer so that we can learn valuable lessons. Rather, he is affirming that even in the midst of difficult circumstances, God is still at work in our lives, shaping and moulding us into the people he created us to be.
This means that when we experience pain, loss, or hardship, we can take comfort in the fact that God is with us and that he is using even the most difficult situations for our ultimate good. We may not always understand why things are happening the way they are, but we can trust that God is in control and that he is working all things together for our benefit.
It’s worth noting that this verse is not a promise that everything will turn out how we want it to. We may still experience suffering and disappointment in this life, and we may never fully understand why certain things happen. However, we can have confidence that God is with us through it all and that he is using our experiences to shape us into the people he wants us to be.
Romans 8:28 is a powerful reminder of God’s love and sovereignty. It tells us that even in the darkest moments of our lives, we can trust that God is at work, using our experiences to bring about good in our lives. As we continue to seek Him and follow His lead, we can have confidence that he will guide us towards the life He has planned for us, one filled with purpose, joy, and fulfilment.