All Things~

I was driving to church a couple weeks ago while listening to one of the songs that we were singing.  Lyrics: You make all things work together for my future and for my good. You make all things work together for Your glory and for Your Name.  I literally broke down crying while I was driving on I97.  I KNOW that He makes all things work together for my good, but I am tired.  It feels like I have been in the boxing ring for over a year and the punches keep coming.

“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” (Romans 8:28).

This passage is so often used as a sunshine and roses passage… but is it?  The more I look at it, the more I see that regardless of good or bad, easy or hard, sunshine or rain, it is used to give us hope for the future… while the present is gloomy.  I translate it to this…

All things (miscarriage, divorce, death of a loved one, betrayal, loss of job, loss of friendships, loss of (what you thought were) friendships, infertility, a broken down vehicle, sickness, loss of a pet, house damage, etc. etc. etc.) work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

As I read the passage surrounding this verse, it gives me great hope.  One of my favorite verses in this section of scripture is verse 18. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  No matter what I am going through, nothing compares to what is coming.  It is painful now but will be worth it in the end.  He is shaping me and making me more like Himself.

Paul later writes (while in chains) that the things that happened to him turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel.  In Philippians 1:21-24 he says, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

For sure, my flesh desires to depart and be with Christ and not go through the trials of this life, but I trust and know that all will work for my future good and for His glory.

Romans 8: 16-39
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.  Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 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. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Father God, thank You that You are sovereign.  Thank You that you make all things work together for my good and for Your glory.  Thank You that in the hard times You provide Your own strength for my weakness.  I love You, help me to love You more.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.