A look at Romans 8:28

Life,
It's a race, a battle, a fight to the end. We all have our up days and down ones alike. So whats the purpose? Why do we run the day to day life laps that never seem to end? This very question always seems to come to mind during the most difficult times. So what is the answer? Are we wasting our time fighting through this? The answer is quite simple....No! You're wasting nothing. God has a plan for each day and he works everything for His glory.
When hard times come, one of the verses I really like to remind myself of is Romans 8:28. In it Paul says this,"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. For those who are called according to his purpose." Now when we begin to analyze this verse there are two main points that need to be understood. The first one has to do with the first part of the verse where it says,"In all things God works for good." Our first reaction when we read that is to think that God takes everyone of our individual circumstances and turns them into something good. The true meaning behind this is that all things together work for good. He does not take every little trial and trouble, but rather he uses a chain of events to accomplish something.
A prime example of this is if we look back at the Old Testament and the story of Joseph. Joseph was constantly looked down on by his older brothers and was eventually sold into slavery. After working for Potiphar for many years things were finally beginning to look bright again. But then Potiphar's wife falsely accused Joseph of trying to rape her. Joseph was immediatly thrown in prison, and was left there for many years. But God had a plan for all of this. As the story goes Joseph became second in charge of Egypt and helped save the nation from the drought. Joseph recognizes God's use of his situations in Genesis 45:5-8 where Joseph is face to face with his brothers, and he tells them not to feel bad for selling him. For it was God's plan and will; Therefore,it was not they who sent him there but God. God uses every one of our circummstances for a reason.
So we have found out that the first part of Romans 8:28 tells us that God uses our trials and troubles, together, for his Glory. But wait a minute, whos circumstances does he use? Everyones? If we look at the second portion of the verse it says, "God works for the good fo those WHO LOVE HIM.For those who are called according to his purpose." This is where our second point comes in. The verse clearly points out that this verse is valid to only God-Lovers. So if we love God and trust in him with our entire being, then this statement is all-inclusive. It covers the good and the bad, the bright and the dark, the sweet and the bitter, the easy and the hard, the happy and the sad. We can depend on it in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness, in the calm and in the storm, in life and in death.
This verse has really meant alot to me in the past few months. It is a constant reminder to us all that our situations and trials may be many, and may seem way overwhelming. But through it all God uses those hard times, the times where we feel the most distant from Him. He uses those to accomplish his glory and plan. So the next time you don't understand why God is allowing things to happen, when you are asking yourself why you go through this pain, take a minute and and remember Romans 8:28. Remember to love and trust that he has a plan for you and he will guide you through it all. "If God brings you to it, He'll get you through it." Give it all to him, and trust.

In Christ,
Matt Spangler