Many of us pass through times of suffering and hardship. Jesus Himself told us “in this world we would have suffering.” In Christian hope we grasp at promises like Romans 8:28, believing “all things will turn out good.” But what happens when all things are not good? What happens when suffering only gets worse? Verses like Romans 8:28 stand in stark contrast to what we sometimes face over long years of prolonged suffering. Maybe like me, you wonder “does God really work all things for good for those who love him?”
I found this topic much on my mind lately after experiencing another loss. In my post, “When Saying Goodbye Opens Old Wounds”, I shared how each loss opens up old grief. But sometimes those old wounds also remind us that no healing seems evident for those old wounds. That seemed the case for me, as some of the grief I re-visited originated in yet unresolved situations. Situations for which I prayed endlessly over a period of years, but still fail to see the “good things.” There are losses in life that are not touched by death, are not made right and force us to carry them.
who makes all things good?
Sometimes we can end up in a downward spiral when it seems all that greets us each day is another trial. We try to reframe everything as “not that bad”; others have it worse than us. We latch onto verses like Romans 8:28 and figure we’ll white-knuckle it through, because things can’t stay this bad. Or can they? When all things are not good, we become desperate to fix them to prove the promise true.
This can lead to weariness of soul, as we attempt to find validation for our suffering. We want to attribute meaning, and more importantly, our own “happy ending”. I sometimes catch myself smoothing Romans 8:28 over my sorrows as if its magic will change the ending to my story. I have, in anger thrown it back to God, claiming He promised to make all things good.
all things are not good
Let’s be honest, all things are not good. Death, chronic illness, heartbreak, natural disasters and crime are not “good”. These result from sin and the Fall, we cannot blame God for everything that causes us suffering. Additionally, our narrow perspective of what is “good” or “bad” blinds us to the bigger picture. We deem anything that does not make us happy or causes us pain as “bad”. While claiming the opposite or relief of suffering as “good”.
When all things are not good in our eyes, we should consider dropping the “good” and “bad” labels. Factually, we are ill qualified to classify anything as good or bad because we don’t control the outcome. I remember the time I was praying for my son; I regaled God with how “bad” the situation was. I spoke as if it were a foregone conclusion that God would agree and act accordingly. Then I heard a clear voice in my heart say simply, “is it?” Listening again, I heard, “is it bad?” The implication was clear, I did not know what I was talking about, I could not see the big picture. I was not God.
do all things always get better?
Do all things always get better? In God’s sovereignty, goodness and mercy, sometimes, but sometimes not. Truthfully, God is not overly concerned with our “happiness and comfort”. Romans 8:29 clarifies the purpose of “all things working together for good”. That purpose is conforming us to the image of Christ, which fits us for His kingdom and brings Him glory.
Just like in John 11, God sometimes uses what He hates to accomplish what He loves. Jesus fully knew Lazarus would die, as well as He knew He would raise him from the dead. Yet He wept at the grave for His own and others’ grief. When all things are not good, God is gracious in His promise to use even our broken lives for His kingdom purposes.
when all things are not good
When we find ourselves sitting with suffering that stretches far longer than we ever expected, Romans 8:28 is still true. When things are not good in his life, we know that in Christ, they will be perfect in the next. We can express sorrow over our losses and broken places. While at the same time God offers us a deep and abiding joy because we indeed know the end of the story.
Ultimately we know God wastes nothing. Even our brokenness and sorrow will be used for good. Rather than focus on the outcome of our current suffering, we can focus on the One who orchestrates that outcome. He is worthy of praise for His excellent Greatness, Majesty and abundant Goodness. His Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom and He holds dominion over every living thing forever. If we but praise Him for His gifts and attending to our happiness, we miss the beauty of true worship. For when all things are not good, we can rest in the fact that God and His purposes are always good.
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Donna, what a wonderful truth-filled post! God is always at work conforming us to the image of His Son and that is good even when the circumstances are not. Thanks for speaking the truth gently and clearly.
Donna
(from anothe Donna B. – my maidenname was Burden)
Your words are a blessing to me, Donna, I thought long and hard over that post and wanted so desperately to come across with kindness, while at the same time not water down the truth. Thank you for taking the time to read it and leave a comment! It’s great to meet another Donna B. I have been a Donna B all my life; my maiden name was Badiali and my married name is Bucher!
No – He wastes nothing – even the hardest hard! This: “When all things are not good, God is gracious in His promise to use even our broken lives for His kingdom purposes” – He is gracious. He is with us – even in the hard! You are right – there are prayers that are not answered right now – and that hurt surges upward every now and then – but God is working and I need to be wait with hope!
Maryleigh, you are a blessing to me! I so appreciate your comments and the time you invest in me as a new blogger. It is hard to maintain hope in the waiting, knowing we may not receive what we so eagerly wait for. I am grateful for God’s continued encouragement that He is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works. Bless you, Maryleigh!
Donna, I appreciate your encouragement to drop the “good” and “bad” labels. Those words are so subjective, and I think that most of the time, God has a different view of what is “for our good” as opposed to what we would prefer. Not every situation has a “happy ending” this side of heaven, and it’s such a comfort to remember that our heavenly Father wastes nothing, including our hard experiences. Thank you for this truth-filled post!
Hi Lois! Thank you for your lovely comment. I so appreciate that you took the time to read my post. I struggled a great deal writing that one. But God has really dealt with me on those issues, and impressed me to share. Thankfully we can know that everything does have a happy ending with heaven in view, trusting in God’s goodness for us.
This is always a tough topic. You handled it well. Even in this year of the pandemic, I’m learning I need to not label everything as good or bad: “Factually, we are ill qualified to classify anything as good or bad because we don’t control the outcome.” Thanks for encouraging me this evening.
Thank you Lisa for your kind words of encouragement! It is a topic I continue to wrestle with the Lord over. I am blessed to know you found some encouragement!