Isn’t It Good To Know That Everything Happens For A Reason?
Posted on May 22, 2018 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28 (NASB)
I’m gonna make a confession to you all today. I occasionally roll my eyes when I hear clichés and I will also let out a heavy sigh when I am in the full throttle of frustration as I hear them. But I also gotta tell you that I have been just as guilty as anyone else when it came to using them…especially when things were going bad for others. “Isn’t it good to know that everything happens for a reason” was one of those clichés that I loved to say to folks when they were in the midst of a heavy trial but hated to hear (and still do) when I was the one in the crucible. So, what was (and still is) my problem with life’s clichés?
Well, part of it has to do with me believing that God has His fingerprints over everything that has happened since He spoke it into existence. Now this might mean that Adam and Eve’s sin was planned so that there could be an objection lesson for us to learn from, but that would be a lie straight from the pit. Like it was gonna be okay that Adam could turn to God and say, “The woman whom YOU gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” I just can’t imagine El Elyon nodding His head in agreement and saying, “Alrighty Then!!” If you go look it up in Genesis 3 you’ll see that blaming God isn’t a good idea.
Another part of it is when I hear well-intentioned Christian’s (including myself), who wanna give you encouragement as they see that life has brought its struggle to you, then come out and say, “Well, you know that all things work together for good to them who love God and are called to His purpose.” Now, I’m paraphrasing this verse from Romans 8 so don’t stone me if I left parts out, but there is something to be said here as a reminder. We live in a fallen world…sometimes the trials and hardships we face are the direct results of our own sinful choices. They’re called self-inflicted wounds.
Now this is just me talking, and you can disagree with me if you like, but I kinda think Romans 8:28 gets misquoted from time to time. Now, once again don’t throw stones just yet, I realize that no matter what happens God is in control, is on His throne AND IS GOOD!!! But that doesn’t mean He’s the direct cause of EVERYTHING that happens and it certainly doesn’t mean that everything He allows is good. If that we’re the case we would never have gotten to know Job and how God used Job to display His glory.
Now please hear this out, I think there is something about Romans 8:28 that folks miss. This promise of God is meant for a specific kinda person and there are two requirements that have to be met. The first one is you have to love God (I dare say unconditionally) and the second is you had to be called according to His purpose. This leaves a lot of people out. The first ones are those who have chosen not to know Jesus, then hear this verse, roll their eyes at you and continue on in their mess. Then there are things that some Christians will do, outta disobedience, go on to proclaim this verse, then expect God to step in and fix what their defiance created.
Now ya know, one of the coolest promises we get from God is the one that says He would never leave us nor forsake us. Romans 8:28 should reassure us that no matter what the enemy is throwing at us, God’s good and eternal purposes will never be diminished because of them. However, God hasn’t promise us that everything will always work out for us. If we give ourselves that self-inflicted wound there will still be a residue of consequence that comes from it. We need to understand that.
But then there is stuff that just happens. As Jesus was wrapping His final teachings to His disciples He would say to them, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you WILL have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus knew that, even after willfully coming down to us, as man, we would still go through things that seemingly have no rhyme or reason connected to them. He just wants us to focus in on Him and not the circumstance surrounding us and if we are doing this the message of Romans 8:28 carries so much more encouragement than we can imagine. Amen?
Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two grown children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.
The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 95, 97-99|You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
Daily Quote: “God can and will accomplish His good purposes no matter what. But that’s a far cry from saying that everything that happens is somehow good or necessary.” — Larry Osborne
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Psalm 119:116