Romans 8:28-29

"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.  For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers." 
Romans 8:28-29

Romans 8:28 is a promise we can rest on and trust in when our world around us seems to be falling apart.  It is a blessed promise, but it is also a promise with which we may at times struggle.  We can believe and trust this promise, however, even when we are overwhelmed and puzzled by adverse circumstances all around us.

The writer of this devotional remembers first struggling with the promise of Romans 8:28 when her dad was suffering the excruciating pain of cancer and radiation.  She wondered how "all things" could possibly be working for good in this case.  What could possibly be "good" about cancer and severe pain?  For that matter what could possibly be "good" about any pain or heartache or trial?   Since that time long ago there have been other heartaches in this writer's life such as her own husband's neurological disease, decline, and death.  She also fought breast cancer herself in the time period in which she was caring for her husband.  How could God be working things for good in these situations?

But God's Holy Word tells us that God works "all things," not some things or even most things for our ultimate spiritual good; if we love Him.  The key to understanding this verse is to realize that not all things are good in themselves.  Sin has wrecked havoc with our world, and there are many experiences in this world that are not good or pleasant in themselves.  God, however, works both the "good" and the "bad" events of our lives together for our ultimate good. 

It has been said that life is like a tapestry.  When you look at the backside of a tapestry it does not look beautiful.  There are knotted off ends and threads that seem to have no meaning or beauty.  When one turns the tapestry over, however, one sees a beautiful picture or design.  When we see life's trials and difficulties we see the backside of the tapestry of life.  God, however, is bringing all the threads or events of our lives together, both good and bad, into a beautiful tapestry.  The Lord already sees the top part of our tapestry of life.  The Lord already sees the beautiful end results of what He is accomplishing in our lives.  When we do not understand the reason for the difficult circumstances in our lives we must simply trust that the Lord is working out all things in our lives for His glory and to accomplish His plan.  He is also working out all things for our ultimate spiritual good.

The ultimate spiritual good that the Lord God is seeking to accomplish in our lives is that we might, as Romans 8:29 says, become "conformed to the likeness of His Son."  It is God's purpose and plan for us that we become more and more like the Lord Jesus.  He desires that we become more like Jesus every day in our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. 

In order for this to happen there must be a conforming process taking place in our lives.  This conforming process often can only occur during times of trial and difficulty in our lives.  Gelatin is only able to be conformed or shaped to the mold into which it is placed after it has been dissolved in hot water.  So we too often have to go through the heat of trials and difficulties to become more conformed to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.

God has the pattern for our lives all figured out.  He knows and understands the beautiful tapestry that He is weaving for our lives.  He knows the beginning from the end.  We must trust the Lord to do His beautiful work in our lives even in times when life's events and circumstances seen very difficult and overwhelming!