And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose…What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? — Romans 8.28, 31–2 (ESV)
What God promises to us Christians in these verses (expressed through the writing of the apostle Paul) is absolutely breathtaking and profound, if only we believe it.
God is promising that he will make all things work together for our good. Not some things, or even most things. All things work together for our good. 100% of things. 10/10 things. Every moment of joy, every tinge of sadness, every circumstance we go through, every stranger we talk to on the street, every rejection we receive, even things happening around us which we are not aware of—God in his sovereign power and might makes it so that they benefit each of us, growing us in faith and love for Him.
What an amazing promise! And we can be absolutely certainly that God will hold to his promise because he has already given us the best thing of all: his own Son. Salvation through Jesus Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension—we sinners rescued from the pit of destruction, God’s righteous fury against us quenched, us being adopted as children of God—is the ultimate and best gift God could ever give us. And we already have it! It is ours! Rejoice!! Nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever separate us from the love of God again (Romans 8.35–9).
So there is no reason whatsoever to doubt that God, who has already given us the best that He could ever offer, will give us every other good thing. There is indeed a part for us to play: we have to seek first His Kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6.33). But to seek does not mean we have to seek perfectly; God knows that we will never be perfect in this world, and he takes that into account. So as long as we try our best to discern his will and follow it, doing what we believe in good faith and conscience to be pleasing in His sight, everything will work together for our good (even our sins).
But sometimes we (and I) ask, “yeah, I know that God will provide and will make all things work together for my good. So why do I still fear? Why do I still worry? Why am I still afraid?” And (thanks to a direct reminder from a close friend) the answer, I think, can be encapsulated in one word: unbelief.
We are still fearful, worried, and afraid because often we don’t believe that God will actually provide. We don’t believe that he has the power to make all things work together. We don’t believe that there really is such a good and powerful God who showers blessings on us generously. For all of us (including myself) who feel this way, I pray that God would help our unbelief. That he would help us recognise and appreciate his glory and greatness. That we would be able to see what he has already done in our lives. That we would be able to walk boldly with his strength every waking moment of our lives.
So, even when our emotions dictate against it, I hope we can live out every hour of every day holding fast to the promise of Romans 8.28: that God will make all things work together for our good, provided we try our best to follow his will and do what is pleasing in his sight. I think our lives will be utterly transformed if we can walk in this way.