In All Things

When we face a difficult situation, so often we want to ask God to deliver us from it, to make the hardship go away. I can't count the number of times I have begged God for certain troubles to be over. Faith is the key- not faith that God will make things go away, but faith that His plan is bigger than yours or mine and that He is working through your problems. Romans 8:24-28 tells us about this faith, this hope:

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. ²⁸ 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."

That last verse, Romans 8:28, is well known by most Christians. I've often reminded myself in tough situations that "all things work for the good," which makes it sound like God plans every occurence for our own good. The KJV of Romans 8:28 says, "All things work together for good to them that love God." All things work together- together being the key word. Your trials are working together to mold you into the person God wants you to be for the purpose He has planned.

However, the NIV verse doesn't say that everything works together for the good; it says "IN all things God works for the good." God works in everything. He works within the problem, He works in the midst of your struggle, He works in the situation, and He works in you. He can use any situation to grow your witness if you allow Him to work in and through you.

If He works within situations for the benefit "of those who love him," what does it mean to really love God? Merely saying you love God is not enough. To me, this verse means that "in all things," in every situation, God will work for your good if you love and trust Him enough to give the situation to Him. It doesn't mean that every situation or every outcome is going to be good just because you're a Christian; however, you will benefit from every hardship, you will learn from every mistake and every trial, if you allow God to work in your life.

Are you allowing God to work "in all things"?

Are you willing to give Him your mess and let Him turn it into a message today?