In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8.26-39
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As usual, there are many things going on here. And, as usual, I’m only going to deal with one of them.
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As usual, there are many things going on here. And, as usual, I’m only going to deal with one of them.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Now, I’m pretty sure that at least some of you have heard this verse before and have heard it a bit too often. It was tossed your way, by someone trying to be helpful, as the obvious solution to whatever problem was confronting you. And time and again, you found that having it tossed your way wasn’t actually all that much help. And so, you’re wondering if you should bother to read the rest of what I’m going to write. But I’m pretty sure that taking a closer look will actually help you the next time you find yourself encountering more life than you are able to handle.
So, let’s start with this. The verse says that everything that happens to you - everything! - is for good because God will make sure that it turns out that way. Is that true? There are times when it sure doesn’t feel like it’s true. And let’s be honest. There have been times when you’ve had some questions about it. ‘Could it be that God will use this for good?!?’ Well, it’s in the Bible. I think that we need to agree that it really is true. Whatever comes your way -’all things’ - will be used for your good. God promises.
Okay, you know that ‘all things work together for good’, even this terrible thing that you’ve been forced to deal with. But how is knowing that helpful? Well, it’s not helpful if you’re expecting some zap to magically change the situation. This promise will be helpful only if you believe it; only if you entrust yourself to the God who made that promise. So, faith - choosing to believe what God has said - is a prerequisite.
Now, it’s important that you understand what this ‘believing God’ thing means. You aren’t believing God if you simply go through the motions of saying, ‘Okay, this promise is true’. It’s not a matter of saying those words and expecting life to change. You have to actually believe Him. There needs to be this internal switch that you turn on. You decide to believe God. You decide to live in a way that is convinced about the truth of those words. ‘All things, including this terrible thing I’m facing right now, will work together for my good because God has promised me that He will make that happen.’
Once you’ve taken that step the problem facing you doesn’t disappear or is somehow reduced to something that you can now manage. The problem is still there, confronting you in all its ugliness. You don’t believe the promise so that you can ignore the problem. God does bless, but His blessing here isn’t about removing the problem. His blessing results in your ability to deal with the problem.
God sees how you deal with life, and He is eager to bless you as you work at serving Him in the ups and downs of life. Sometimes His blessing is simply the ability to do the next thing. And once you do that, the ability to do the thing that comes after that. God’s blessings are not otherworldly experiences. God’s blessings are intended to be so very practical. There are saints who are confronted by some very difficult things, and that every day, who do so with a peace, every day, that few have ever experienced. This makes it possible for them to get up each day and face the difficulties. God’s blessings are intended to be so very practical.
The key to this, as usual, is prayer. Let’s use this verse, a favorite of mine.
Okay, you know that ‘all things work together for good’, even this terrible thing that you’ve been forced to deal with. But how is knowing that helpful? Well, it’s not helpful if you’re expecting some zap to magically change the situation. This promise will be helpful only if you believe it; only if you entrust yourself to the God who made that promise. So, faith - choosing to believe what God has said - is a prerequisite.
Now, it’s important that you understand what this ‘believing God’ thing means. You aren’t believing God if you simply go through the motions of saying, ‘Okay, this promise is true’. It’s not a matter of saying those words and expecting life to change. You have to actually believe Him. There needs to be this internal switch that you turn on. You decide to believe God. You decide to live in a way that is convinced about the truth of those words. ‘All things, including this terrible thing I’m facing right now, will work together for my good because God has promised me that He will make that happen.’
Once you’ve taken that step the problem facing you doesn’t disappear or is somehow reduced to something that you can now manage. The problem is still there, confronting you in all its ugliness. You don’t believe the promise so that you can ignore the problem. God does bless, but His blessing here isn’t about removing the problem. His blessing results in your ability to deal with the problem.
God sees how you deal with life, and He is eager to bless you as you work at serving Him in the ups and downs of life. Sometimes His blessing is simply the ability to do the next thing. And once you do that, the ability to do the thing that comes after that. God’s blessings are not otherworldly experiences. God’s blessings are intended to be so very practical. There are saints who are confronted by some very difficult things, and that every day, who do so with a peace, every day, that few have ever experienced. This makes it possible for them to get up each day and face the difficulties. God’s blessings are intended to be so very practical.
The key to this, as usual, is prayer. Let’s use this verse, a favorite of mine.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. (Mark 9.24)
The faith that you bring to any promise of God will not be perfect. Don’t expect it to be. You’re only going to sort of believe. And there will be times when that is all too obvious to you. So, as you are confronted by something awful, and you know this promise, and you want to believe this promise, pray. And what you pray is simple. ‘Lord, I believe this promise, at least a bit. Help me to believe it enough to gain Your blessing so that, as a result, I can believe it a bit more. I ask this so that as I deal with this problem, my life will make You look as good as You really are to the people who are around me. I want to encourage saints and evangelize unbelievers. Amen.’
God, being the loving Father that He is, has committed Himself to us. That’s what His promises are. It’s a gift of the Gospel of Jesus. So, get to know His promises and pray to grow in your ability to believe them. As you do that, your life won’t be carefree, but it will be worth living.
God, being the loving Father that He is, has committed Himself to us. That’s what His promises are. It’s a gift of the Gospel of Jesus. So, get to know His promises and pray to grow in your ability to believe them. As you do that, your life won’t be carefree, but it will be worth living.
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