God works for good

By Curtis Coleman, guest columnist

January 25, 2008 07:52 pm

— In the New Testament Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul provides us with one of the highest expressions of a deep and abiding faith in God. He writes, “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” The Phillips translation puts it, “Moreover we know that to those who love God, who are called according to His plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good.”
The Apostle Paul had many opportunities to verify this kind of claim he made.
Most of us can look back on life and see that some of the things that we thought were disasters worked out to our good. Things that we thought were disappointments worked out to be greater blessings. When we look back we can see a guiding and directing hand in it and through it all.
We cannot say that everything is always for the best. There is too much evidence to prove otherwise. Everything is not good. Bad things happen to good people. The awesome gift of our human freedom of choice in God’s circumstantial will helps us to understand how bad things can happen. We can say that God works in every situation no matter how difficult.
God wills good for everyone in His intentional will and in His ultimate will. Dr. Leslie Weatherhead’s book, “The Will of God,” is an excellent definition of God’s will. Things do work together for good for those who love and trust God. We must respond to this loving God. This kind of faith is a cooperative experience.
We can draw strength and courage from examples like an old saint who was joyously speaking of God’s great goodness. It seemed as though she had never known trials or hard times. ”Have you never had any clouds?” she was asked. “Clouds?” she replied, “Why of course, where else would all the showers have come from that have refreshed and blessed me so?” God works for good is one of the great facts of life.