A Hard Word

Our confrontations with evil, tragedy, and difficulties makes Romans 8:28 a hard Word to believe.  If anyone has a memory that needs jogging, Romans 8:28 says, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose."   What likely gives most of us the most trouble is the first part which says, "We know that all things work together for good..."  There have been many troubles on the road we have walked which have caused us to wonder if the Apostle was truly one being inspired by the Holy Spirit when he wrote these words. 

"All things" cover a lot of bad stuff.  It does not provide for any exceptions or exclusions.  It means what it means which is that whatever comes along determined to be bad can be used for some good by God.  If we say we have never doubted this word, or that we have never thrown it up angrily in the face of God, we are probably caught up in a grand act of self denial.  It is a hard word to accept and believe, but it remains a part of the Sacred Word which we deem to be truthful, correct, and sound doctrine.

 

Sometimes it takes a long time of looking back to realize and accept the truth being declared by these words from Romans.  Sometimes it may even take a life time of living before we are able to look back at some dark moment in our life and see that God did manage to bring some good to us or others through it.  And, of course, there may be some things we have simply had to put on the back burner of our life so that we go forward with the rest of what we believe in tact.  When we are in the darkness of difficult moments, we are sure God could have figured out a better way.  Yet, the truth remains.  A part of the truth is that some moments are hard and impossible to understand.  And, the second part of the truth is that God is always at work in the circumstances of those who love Him to bring about goodness, love, mercy, and gratitude.