Romans 8:28  “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”.   This is one of my favorite promises.   It is just packed with Lessons and Truths that give us hope and assurance of faith.

1.   No circumstance is beyond God’s control.  God is sovereign and He can bring good things out of bad situations.    In 2 Chronicles 20:6, King Jehoshaphat affirms God’s sovereignty:  “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.”  There is nothing in heaven or earth that is outside of God’s control.
2. God intends good for me.  God is good and intends only good things for me.  “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”  Lamentations 3:25 and Psalm 34:8  “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! ”  Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good,
   a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in him.”   All of these verses promise God is good and intends good towards me, the believer.  Belief in God brings showers of goodness and purpose.
3. God has a purpose to which he has called me.    2 Timothy 1:9-11 tells us that through Jesus “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”
4. God’s ways are not our ways.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  Isaiah 55:8   Many times I do not understand the events, the suffering, senseless violence and evil that happen in our sin filled world.  Sin taints and destroys indiscriminately.  We simply must trust in our good sovereign God to work everything to good in His time.   Here is where faith is essential- trusting God in the face of adversity, trusting God that He is good, trusting God that He loves me and has good things planned for me, trusting God to avenge wrongs and vindicate the believers.

In all of this– are you called by God- do you believe in Him and the saving work of Jesus on the cross?  If you do- then you can rest assured that no matter what, no matter how things look, God is sovereign and can work things for good and will according to His plan.  We cannot see the beginning and the end, we do not see the whole picture and how things fit together- even though God allows things to happen, He does not cause evil.  Being sovereign He can and does work within the circumstances and  bring about good.  If you are not a believer, why not?  God stands with his own.  Over and over He promises,  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6

Romans 8:28 is a wonderful promise filled with hope and assurance.  Claim it today!!

Linda