Nothing Wasted

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 CSB

For many years I would quote Romans 8:28  passage of Scripture.  As a matter of fact it was my go to scripture.  To those who were experiencing difficult times.  Hard times and yes painful times.  I quoted a Scripture that I had no real understanding of.

One year ago, I had a defining moment in my life, where I found myself clinging to this verse as though my very life depended on it…  The trial was so great that it sent me digging deeper into the meaning of the passage, that I thought I understood so well.  Little did I know that  it would change the trajectory of how I learned to take hold of those words “We Know” all things. And, it was those words that has taught me how to hold tight to God’s promises

So, What if you knew—What if you really knew— that everything that happened in your life would eventually work for good in your life?  Would it change the way you felt, thought or lived out your life?

Romans 8:28, is a passage of Scripture that comes with a certain condition.  Within this great promise lies the key to the passage..  Lets look at it… And we know, we know comes with a Certainty… a sense of  assurance, if you will.  That in All things.  What it did not say was (in Some things), God works for the good of those who, what? LOVE God,  who have been called according to His Purpose.  So we have established that we must Love Him, and are called according to His purpose.

 

The words “we know” are not necessary to the promise, and the verse makes good sense without them.  If it simply reads, “All things work together for the good of those who love God,” it would still be a great truth.  In fact, if the verse was worded like that, the primary subject and verb would  be the promise itself: (All) things work!!   This truth is simply what our attitude should be about it.  The fact that Romans 8:28 hence, begins with a statement of certainty giving emphasis on how important it is to God that we claim His promises with complete Confidence.

We don’t have to just hope, this will work,  we don’t have to toss and turn in anxiety.  We simply Know.  We Know God; thus we Know His Power, Know His Providence and can Trust His Provision.  Why?  Because it is Certain. For sure. Inevitable.  Oh my friend, it is God’s guarantee.   This is the attitude we see throughout Scripture.  The word “Know” occurs some 1,317 times from Genesis to Revelation, and with that we are instructed to approach life challenges with total trust in the realities of His promises.

Here are a few:

“I Know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth” (Job 19:25, NIV)

“Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for Himself” (Psalm 4:3).

“We have come to believe and Know that You are the Holy One of God!” (John 6:69)

“You will Know the truth, and the truth will set you free”  (John 8:32)

Looking at life challenges through the lenses of Almighty God, with Faith is the ability to live life with Confidence, knowing that the promises of God are trustworthy.  Faith is believing that God will do exactly what He has said.  Walking and living by faith isn’t a matter of burying our heads in the sand and then hoping for the best.  No. It’s confronting the realities of life from the perspective of God’s immutable, unshakeable, unfailing Word.  The believer who lives by faith doesn’t have to hope because they live in the reality of Certainty.

Yes, the Bible does use the word “hope.”  But in the Bible, “Hope” is not synonymous with “maybe”.  Biblical hope refers to sure and certain expectations, which, because they’re still in the future, creates in us a sense of anticipation.

I’ve learned within every crisis or problem, however, painful, hard or difficult.  We have a choice to choose our attitude.  We have a choice to intentionally see God’s Sovereign perspective, playing out in our lives.  We have a choice.  Either we choose to collapse in despair and hopelessness.  Or we’ll choose to view our hardships through the truth of Romans 8:28 and say, “All these things will work themselves out for my good in God’s perfect timing and providence.”  And be okay with knowing though my circumstances may not change.. I will.  All to the Glory of God!    

So, when I see Romans 8:28; in the light of who God is… I hold on to that “All things,” that truly do work good in our lives.  Knowing that so much of what we go through isn’t just for you— it is for the saving of others, to be a blessing to others in the midst of their difficult season.  Let us remember, your story (hard thing), surrendered into the hands of God, Will Not Be Wasted.  So breathe, you truly are Loved, Valued, Chosen and Treasured by the one who deeply Loves You.. God will Restore you and bring meaning back into your life… As He writes a new chapter to the pages of your life.

To this day, My difficult circumstance hasn’t changed.  It’s been a year now. But what has changed (by the Grace of God), is a changed heart  toward  the circumstance.  I think it is important to keep in mind that believing in God’s Sovereignty does not mean you believe that God causes everything in your life. Rather, it means that God either causes or allows everything in your life.  And if He allows it.  He can use it.  Trusting in His Sovereignty  means trusting that He can cause everything to work for your good—even the confusing and hurtful things—if you choose to love Him and respond to Him in the midst of your circumstances.   Will you believe God is doing something greater than you can see or understand?

Be Encouraged Today!

Knowing that you are so deeply Loved by God and His plans for you,  Always outweighs your temporary difficulties… 

May you leave this site feeling Encouraged and Loved!