Lord’s Library contributor Jared Helms offers views from a branch on the all things work together for good to them thar love God verse meaning in the Bible. Check out Jared’s YouTube channel and two blogs: A Light in the Darkness and Blind Faith Examples, or send him a reader response email. Lord’s Library’s Ministry Leaders Series is a collection of contributed articles written by ministry leaders on key Christian topics.
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.”
This verse is often brought forth as an encouragement in difficult seasons. Nearly as often it rings hollow. I am in debt; how is the Lord working this for my good? This cancer is preventing me from doing what God has laid on my heart; how is this good? My marriage is falling apart; where is God to work this for good? Life situations often cast doubt upon the promise of Romans 8:28.
We might try to find the silver lining; the silver lining is not what is promised here. God is not bringing some good out of the bad, but working all things to an ultimate good. A silver lining would be compensation. I’m sorry you have to endure this poverty, but here is something to dull the sting a bit. I think if we are honest, compensation is what we often seek. I suffered a loss, so give me back what was taken, with a little interest for my suffering. That is what our lawsuit aims at, and perhaps we find ourselves pursuing such a case against God.
The sunny side of life often seems an illusion made up of willful ignorance and naivety. Those who find the glass half full might be chided as fools by a practically minded populace. Surely, none of this is what the inspired apostle intends. It is not that we seek to wrestle God into granting us our demands. Nor is it that we overlook the hardships. No, Paul is directing us to God in love for solace.
All Things Work Together for Good to Them That Love God Verse Meaning
God has not obligated Himself to make reparations, or to compensate us for our trials; no, He promises redemption. The hard times are not made up for; they are transformed by God’s Grace to achieve His final purpose for each of His people. It is not that after the bad shall come some good, but that the bad will bring forth a greater good. In this sense, any setback, trial, tribulation, loss, or affliction can be viewed as a good thing.
I know, I know, that doesn’t change the way it feels. A promise of redemption doesn’t settle the credit card debt, or remove the disease, or bring back a loved one. No, in the moment, the pain remains, but the brokenness does not. The story does not end in tragedy or defeat. We know this because the whole of the story is revealed.
Paul summarizes the narrative in Romans 8:29-32: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
God has been for us since before we existed. His plan for us has moved forward and will continue to do so. It is tempting here to turn to our eternal hope. However, we must not lose our temporal hope here. Yes, glory awaits, and that ought to inform our outlook each day.
In Lamentations, Jeremiah did not see God’s mercies yet to come, but mercies that were new every morning. The Psalmist did not say that God would take our burdens someday, but that God bears them for us each day. God’s love inspires hope for tomorrow and today. God is there, and he is not silent. We can trust Him, because He has proven trustworthy in the direst circumstances. He has handled the biggest hardship of our life, and so we are assured He will handle the rest of it well.
Here then is ground for hope: God is never distracted from His purpose. God always has His Way. God is never surprised. God is never unprepared. God knows what has been, what is, and what will be. God could relieve all our troubles in the very next instance, before you have even finished reading this line; but if He chooses not to, it must be good for us. Might not feel good to us; but fortunately, our feelings do not dictate reality.
It is tempting at this point to share some of my own ongoing hardships with you, just so that you know that I am not beyond suffering and struggling in those hard seasons. I might complain, but who would want to listen? No, it is not really helpful to you or to me. The help we all need is found in Christ. You see, Christ suffered more than any of us ever could because He alone did not deserve to suffer anything at all. His example is perfect.
If there is one thing we know, it is that we will go through hard times; we are not greater than our Master. Paul knew about this, and wrote about it. What He writes is quite hopeful. See 2 Corinthians 4:7-10: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
We are not overcome; we are still here. Every morning, we wake to the reality is a morning in which God’s mercies are new, His plans are unfolding, and goodness awaits. The first morning you wake to a new reality is the end of your suffering.
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