And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.-Romans 8:28(ESV)
For some reason, I have taken certain words that are a part of the English language and have changed the meanings on them. Words that are completely inclusive, now have possible doubt attached to them. Many times, I don't mean to completely disregard the meanings of simple words such as 'all', or 'everything', or 'always', but many times when those words hit my brain, my reasoning filters them and they become, 'some', 'some things', and 'sometimes'. I think most of the time, it's because my experiences usually don't accept definite words as definite.
This is why the verse above gives us such trouble. We speak it, and we say we believe it, but how many of us usually discredit the above statement with a simple conjunction. We take a word like all, which means every, or any, or the greatest possible, and discredit it with the word, but, which means on the contrary, except, unless, or otherwise. We say, yes! I do believe all things work together for those who love God...but I don't see it in my situation. So we say we believe something wholeheartedly and then completely discredit and disregard our previous statement by saying, 'but'.
I know it is difficult to get past this for a lot of us. For me, it is always a struggle. I will quote scripture over myself or meditate on something like this verse in Romans 8, and then 5 minutes later I'm completely throwing it out the window because I'm reminded of a circumstance.
I've been praying a little differently as of late. I know my circumstances still look impossible sometimes. I've asked God thousands and thousands of times to change, or take away, or do something different in my life. It hasn't ever changed anything, then I get angry with God, and I just want to give up. So now, instead of asking Him to change my situation, I ask Him to always remind me of what He said. I've been asking Him to continually renew my mind, and remind me of the promises that He's made.
All things work together for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I tend to read that verse and think, well yeah. All the good things in my life work together to continue to be good. I mean that sounds like a good explanation. It sounds like an alright idea. It's incredibly wrong. All means All. All does not mean some. We can't take words like all and turn them into indefinite words. There is no doubt in the word all. What this verse is literally saying is that if you love Him, He takes the good, the bad, the ugly, and the indifferent, and weaves them ALL together to complete a work that He finished, and ultimately it is for your good!
You're in a crappy situation? Well, wait. Wait it out. Eventually the bad will turn into the good and the process will be completed. He finds ways and has already set certain things into motion so that all of the junk and all of the blessings can work together to make a finished product that is in all actuality a good product. If you're reading this and you are a believer in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of your soul, then this verse applies.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.-Jeremiah 29:11(ESV)
He hasn't forgotten His plans. He hasn't turned His back on His plans. He doesn't do things half way. He does thing all the way or not at all. He's not like us. He isn't even close to us. He is far better than we know, and He's far better than we give Him credit for.
I don't know what you're currently going through. I have no clue what most of you are dealing with. I'm sure I can't imagine some of your current predicaments, but here's one thing I do know. Our God is good. He is faithful. He said that He would never leave nor forsake us. He also told us He has a plan to prosper and not to harm, and He says that this present situation will ultimately work out for your good. Ultimately, all the stress, frustration, anger, happiness, joy, love, hard times, and good times, WILL work together for your benefit, if you love Him and are called with His purpose. And if you love Him, you ARE called, because we don't know to love Him except that He first loved us.
Don't give up. Don't let go. Even when you can't see it. Even when you can't feel it. Even when you don't understand it. Don't forget His promises. Don't forget that He has a plan. Don't forget that He will make this work out for good in the end. He loves you, and He will work it out.
If it isn't good yet, then it isn't over. Sometimes things happen that we couldn't possibly understand them working out for our good. I can't begin to explain how some of the horrible things that happen work out for our good, but I'm also not God. I won't pretend to have all the answers. I just know that I have the 1 answer. His name is Jesus, and He is enough for me.
All things will work together for your good. He has a plan. And He is faithful and trustworthy to complete it. There's a song by one of my favorite bands called To The Very End. These are the lyrics:
You know me, and I know You
You're the God who calms all my storms
You're the voice inside my head
Don't give up
Don't let go
Don't lose trust
Don't lose hope
You can have all my fears, God
You can have all my sins
You can have all my weaknesses
I know You're with me to the very end.
Friends, He is with you to the very end. He won't turn from You. He won't leave this unfinished. He will complete the work. He will see it through, and you will come out better than you were on the other side.
