Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (NKJV)

It’s a common verse, I know! Even without any Sunday school background or being a PK (Pastor’s Kid) you must have heard of how God works everything out for our good. It’s an easy verse to quote as a Christian, especially when encouraging someone in the midst of a storm. Spiritually, it works. But physically, honestly, it doesn’t always feel like it.

As a PK myself, I used to feel very cheated when life would go so far south for a prolonged period, hearing my parents quote this verse over and over again. I would wonder how God would seriously think that any of the bad things would amount to anything remotely okay, let alone good. If I’m honest, I’m not completely out of this mentality, but I kind of see the big picture a lot better now that I’m clearly adulting.

First of all, everything working out for your good never means things feel good. Oh, if you know anything about God hurting your feelings, just join my pity club already. Feelings don’t have much to do with things working out. I mean, think about it – even in typical human relationships, if you want literally anything to work out (especially in the face of conflict) feelings need to be out of the way. But for some reason, we hope this doesn’t apply to God – but it does. I think it’s one of those rules of nature where, for things to work, emotions need to take a back seat.

Second of all, you are dealing with God. I think it’s going to take me the rest of my life to fully grasp this concept, ‘cause I seem to always forget. He says it so clearly in His word – “My ways are not your ways, and My thoughts are not your thoughts.” It should be easy to grasp, but not when you are deep into a storm hoping for some saving grace. How God chooses to work things out for your goodwill very rarely ever makes sense to you. If you are lucky, you’ll see it in retrospect. Otherwise, the rest of the time you’ll just have to join the rest of us in trusting God blindly. Soon enough, after the storm has passed, you realize you are a better person and you have grown, but your human brain has no sense of focus enough to relate the new changes as God has worked it out.

Anyway, today I’m just here to remind you that you are not at a disadvantage for any of the things that have happened to you in the past – yes, any of it! It may have left some very deep wounds that you are still healing from, but you are not at a disadvantage. It may have cost you all your relationships, but you have no idea how much more beauty lies ahead of your ashes.

The fact that nothing catches God by surprise should be convincing enough, that no experience is wasted. Every good and bad thing is a small piece of the puzzle that is crucial for your purpose. I sometimes like to think of God as ‘Michael Scofield’ of Prison Break (forgive me for loving movies) and how he had a calculated plan for his escapes, especially the first time around. Every little piece of his tattoo was crucial for his plan’s success. But life being life, something will always go wrong. It does not mean that God initiates everything. 

Truthfully, some bad things are by design from God. If He brings them, it is for refining – or maybe punishment, cause He’s a father after all.

1 Samuel 16:14 – But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. (NKJV)

Other times, the Lord allows things to linger on for a while because we need it for our character.

2 Corinthians 12:8 – Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 – And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Yet, even then, some things are a result of our own choices – you know, disobedience? We fail God one too many times. And while His grace is sufficient and His love unfailing, the wages of sin are still death. He may preserve your life, but darling, you’ll still get burned.

Zechariah 1:6 – But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your forefathers? “Then they repented and said, “The LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do’.“

For the rest of the time, we can most certainly blame the devil – this might be the most fun part of being a Christian (having someone to blame for literally everything, lol). His plan has always been to kill, steal, and destroy. Since most of the time killing you is out of the picture – thank God for the wall of fire surrounding us – he will attack everything else you have. Delays, discouragement, disgrace, distractions, and depression are among the devil’s forte.

1 Thessalonians 2:18 –Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 

My Point?

Either way, God uses everything in our life for His glory – no matter the explanation for the eventualities of your life, they still fit into God’s plan for your life.

You are right at the center of God’s grand plan, which is why you must stop imagining that you are at a disadvantage. Nothing is too much of a mistake that God can’t use for your good. Nothing lost is ever really lost.

You may come out bruised. You may bear some scars. But that won’t stop God from working everything for your good. 

There are no disadvantages with God. Instead, every bad break predisposes you to God’s favor. Look at how Job’s story had a plot twist – I think God’s plot twist is always restoration. As He allows things to leave your life, He plans for how greater things are to come in.

So, breathe.

I may not come to get you out of your storm, but I need you to know that there is a plot twist about to happen pretty soon. I also need you to know that God is working it all out for you, as a promise He makes only to those that love Him. Maybe don’t seek to get out of the storm just yet – maybe ask for peace instead. It is already assured that He is working it all out for you. As that’s done, what you need the most at this moment is peace to endure, a joy to survive, and wisdom to maneuver.

He did it with Joseph, David, and I’m sure pretty much everyone in the Bible. Learn what you must, and praise because you must.