All Things Work Together For Good

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (1)

According to the eternal purpose of God, all things contribute to the welfare of those who love Him. Even the troubles, suffering and trials of this life, far from hindering our salvation, help it to advance. At every step, the Christian may be under the protection of God and be serving His purpose. It is God who causes all things to work together in the lives of those who turn to Him. He will cause all things to work together in our lives for the ultimate good.

According to scripture, nothing can touch the Christian except by God's permission (2), and all things that are permitted work together for the good of those who love Him. If God permits suffering and perplexity to come upon us, it may or may not be a consequence of our own actions, however, the adversity is not to destroy us but to refine us and help us to grow in His grace. The troubles and disappointments of this life help to take our affections from the world and lead us to look to God for understanding and support. They teach us the truth about our fragile and dying condition and cause us to rely on God for deliverance and strength to cope.

Adversity produces in us a more humble and subdued spirit, a more patient and tender disposition. This has been the experience of God's people throughout history, and at the end of their lives they have been able to say that it was good for them to have been so afflicted (3). Joseph, at the end of his life, was able to say to his brothers, "You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." (4)

"To those who love God" describes the true followers of God, those who have real faith in Him and who trust His leading in their lives. Their love for God is in response to His love for them. The love of God must first be received and understood by a man or woman before he or she in turn can love God. (5) God loves all of us (6), however, He can truly only work out His salvation in the lives of those who have yielded to Him to be saved. God, in the Bible, has invited all to be saved. However, salvation is never forced on an unwilling heart, but comes as the result of men and women freely accepting His invitation. He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (7)

1. Romans 8:28.
2. see Job 1:12; 2:6 and Matthew 10:29-31.
3. see Psalms 119:67, 71; Hebrews 12:11.
4. Genesis 50:20.
5. 1 John 4:19.
6. John 3:16.
7. 2 Peter 3:9.