On the island of Marathon in the Florida Keys, there’s a young man in his mid 20’s who gives the best pedicures. He’s friendly and always wants to talk … like a lot. I know all about his struggles with alcohol in the past and his boredom with a life of sobriety. I know he grew up in a ghetto in Southern California and he’s struggled with relationships. Each time I sit with him, I feel the Spirit within me stir. What he’s searching for is Jesus. What he needs is Jesus.
But he told me believing in God is hard for him because if there is a God, God took his grandma. His grandma was the one really good thing he had in his life. He shared that she was loved by everyone and never hurt anyone. Then she got cancer and died. Now, my young friend who talks a lot while painting my toenails, questions if there’s a God at all. Why would God do that to someone who is good.
I think deep down, it’s a question we’ve all struggled with. Why do bad things happen to good people? Where’s God in life’s hardships?
I can’t pretend to have the perfect answers here. I felt very inadequate in answering him. Somehow my reply of, “Life is so much more than what we see here, my friend.” felt sorely lacking and empty.
Romans 8:28, “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
This is a promise. A promise for specific people. A promise for anyone who loves God and are called by him for his purposes. To understand who these people are, we must begin with the end of that sentence first. To be called by God for his purpose means you are being personally requested. God has called some by name, specifically and intentionally. The purpose of his calling is to bring them into a relationship with him.
Is that you? How do you know? Scripture actually explains to us that God chooses who he wants, and who he doesn’t choose for a relationship with him, he hardens their hearts so they refuse to listen to him. My human mind can’t understand that, and it doesn’t have to. I’m not God and I can’t assume to know better than he does or demand explanations for divine matters for my human understanding. God owes us no explanations.
But, if God calls us into the purpose of a relationship with him, then the door is opened for us to love him. Scripture is clear when you love God, you will want to obey him.
Now, let’s do a little self check here – do you want to do better for God? Do you desire a relationship with him? Do you love him even while you don’t understand him?
Yes! Understand that’s because God first chose you for relationship. He called your heart to him for the purpose of relationship! He loved you first! That is you! So, this promise is for you.
The promise is, God will cause everything to work together for your good. Who will do it? GOD WILL DO IT!
You can’t always make it work together. You can’t always fix it. You can’t always pick up the pieces and make them fit again. But God can. That’s his promise.
A promise is only as good as the person who makes it. This is a promise from the maker of Heaven and Earth. This is a promise from the one who holds the whole world in the palm of his hand. This is a promise from the one who has literally numbered the hairs on your head and knows every detail about you. This is a promise from the one who has complete authority and undeniable ability to do the impossible. If the one who can make the impossible possible has made a promise to you, then every impossible you’re facing for is suddenly 100% possible.
God has called you into a relationship with him, now he himself will be involved in every detail to make all things work together for something good.