By Dewayne Troutt

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. —Romans 8:28.

Some other translations say it a little different. The NASB says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” And the KJV says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called.

All the versions mean basically that God is so supremely in charge of the world that all the things that happen to Christians are ordered in such a way that they serve our good. Tribulation and distress and persecution and famine and nakedness and peril and sword all work together for the good of those who love God.

Paul is not giving this promise to all people, but only to those “who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

All things are not good; it would be bad to say that they are…the death of a child is not good, cancer is not good, drug addiction is not good, alcohol addiction is not good, war is not good, blasphemy is not good.

In Genesis 37 we see the principle of God working all things together for good is well illustrated in the Old Testament account of Joseph’s life. Early in Joseph’s life, Joseph’s jealous brothers sold him into slavery. In Egypt, however Joseph rises to a position of responsibility. Then, he is unjustly imprisoned and forgotten about by his friends. God gifts him the ability to interpret dreams, and through that ability Joseph is once again raised to a place of honor and power.

Throughout his life, Joseph trusted God no matter his good or bad circumstances. Joseph experienced plenty of bad things: kidnapping, slavery, false accusations, wrongful imprisonment, rejection, and famine. But in the end God brought things to a wonderful, life-affirming conclusion. God blessed Joseph’s entire family through those painful circumstances and through Joseph’s faith.

Paul’s life is another testimony to how God works all things together for good. Paul suffered shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonment, murder attempts, temporary blindness, and more—all within God’s plan to spread the gospel. Through it all, God was steadfastly working to bring about good and glorious results.

After promising that God works all things together for our good, Romans 8 concludes with the wonderful fact that God trumps everything that comes against Him and His. The Christian is assured that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35–39).

God’s love is everlasting, God loves you. It doesn’t matter who or what attempts to mess God’s plan; no one and nothing can. God will work all things together for the good of those who love Him. Our decision to align our will with God’s and to always trust Him will be rewarded. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Romans 10:13 “for whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Call upon Him today if you don’t know Him, blessed and highly favored of God.