ALL Things for Good?

 

The other night I was asked by someone—whom I will call Martha—if I really believe that God works all things for good. I said I did. To which she responded, “But I don’t understand how your condition can be for good.”

Martha’s not alone. It isn’t just my specific condition. There are a host of possibilities that can seem, at first glance, utterly pointless. Far from doing good, they seem to work for evil. And yet the Bible says, “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” (Romans 8:28). It isn’t “many” things, or even “most” things. It’s all things. For the called—for those who love God—all things work together for good. That is God’s promise.

For some, this presents a serious philosophical problem. They don’t understand how to reconcile God’s working all things for good with human freedom and even demonic activity. To which I answer, “But with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). I do not have to understand how, when I know Who. It is God who does it, and the Bible tells us that nothing is too hard for Him.

But is this all we can say? Simply that God can do the impossible? Actually, I think we can say a great deal more.

What is it you want more than anything? For me, the answer to that question is quite simple. I have in mind the salvation of someone I love. That is many times more important to me than my health. And if the reason for my present suffering were the salvation of that person, I would not just count it a good bargain—I would gladly make it! To see this person added to the kingdom and rejoicing in Jesus would more than compensate for this.

As you contemplate your own circumstances, I encourage you to think along these lines. We must not think only in terms of this life. God is not merely concerned with our good here for 30, 70, or 90 years. He is concerned with our eternal good (2 Corinthians 4:17–18).

Think about your prayer life. What have you been asking for lately? What keeps coming up? When Jesus asks, “What would you have me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51), what do you tell Him?

I suspect there are a few things you want more than anything else. Perhaps they include:

  • A closer walk with God

  • Holiness

  • The salvation of loved ones

  • The advancement of His kingdom

  • Honour and praise for Jesus

And these are precisely the kinds of things God works through suffering. Many of us have prayed long and hard for these very things. And shall we question His methods? If He gives us the very things we have asked for, how can we argue? 

I am personally persuaded that the “all things” of Romans 8 truly includes all things. And I am also persuaded that when we reach heaven and are given to understand—even in part—the reasons why, we will understand, and we will thank God that it happened just as it did.

Every hardship, every loss, is measured out by His own skillful hand—ordered at His wise discretion and purposed in love. As the older writers said, “there is a needs be”. He does not afflict carelessly or cruelly. It is divine wisdom and love that order these things—so that even in the midst of pain and suffering, we can say in faith, “the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage (Psalm 16:6).”

But there is one more thing I want to add. We are not stoics. I realize it may be tempting to take truths like these and attempt to meet suffering with a kind of determination that simply grins and bears it. But it is possible for us to endure such things with joy.

How?

Speaking personally, I can say that some days are harder than others, and often it takes work and effort. But the answer is almost always the same: communion with God—worship, praise, and prayer.* We put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). And as Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

In short, when I am with Him—when He draws near—I have a taste of heaven on earth, and then comes the joy. For His lovingkindness is better than life (Psalm 63:3).

* I suspect that much is owed to the prayers of the saints. Just how much, only heaven can tell.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Our Compromise in the Face of Covid-19: An open letter to the Church

Author’s note (2026):  I am evangelical by conviction. I am part of what is called evangelicalism. Over the years, I have had concerns like those raised in this post—but I was never embarrassed by the term or the movement. Recently, however, something has changed. I believe this change began some time ago; in fact, our reaction to the COVID lockdowns was just one symptom of a deeper, more foundational problem. There is no doubt in my mind that we have shifted, but for me, the change has become increasingly noticeable—and increasingly distressing. In a recent post ,  I invite the reader to consider three examples in which our stated principles have been tested and decide for themselves whether that is true. -- Dear brothers and sisters, greetings in the name of King Jesus.  I am writing to you (as I have written to my own Session) because I believe that we - the Church in North America - have let the Lord down.  Like Peter we have made big promises, but in a m...
Read more

The Church of God & Ray Tinsman

  I have been asked repeatedly about our connection with the Church of God (COG) in Aylmer.  When the questions first started to come I had never spoken to Henry Hildebrandt and knew very little about his church.  In the weeks and months that followed I spoke with Henry on separate occasions and in person. At that initial meeting with Henry I asked him a series of pointed questions.  I was concerned.  I was glad his church was open, but I had heard rumors of heresy and cultish behaviour and wanted to hear it from him.  Ordinarily I might have dismissed a group like his outright. But the COG Aylmer was one of the very few churches in Ontario that remained open through the lockdowns, and I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. So, I asked him about his view of Scripture, his view of salvation, his understanding of the person and work of Christ and so on.  And I came away mostly satisfied.  There were clear differences between us, but on th...
Read more

On mask wearing and obeying civil authorities

Image
Not very long ago we were told by Christian leaders that it would be wrong to gather for worship even while wearing masks because the civil authorities had forbidden us from gathering in groups of more than 5.  It was - we were told - a matter of Christian obedience pure and simple.  Since then we have seen some interesting (and worrying) developments.   The government has allowed us to gather in larger groups and many (though certainly not most) churches have begun to do so.  However, the authorities have told us that while we may gather we may not sing, and more recently they have told us we must wear masks.   So, how have churches responded to these developments?  Many churches have decided to play it safe.  I will call them ‘group A’.  Worried about the virus they have decided to resume worship in the fall or even later.  Eventually they will begin meeting again, but they are in no rush to do so.  They have told their congregations ...
Read more