In All Things

I just had to post this devotional by James McDonald. He hosts a weekly radio program called Walk in the Word. http://www.walkintheword.com He is currently undergoing treatments for cancer. He sends out these weekly devotionals that I just love to read. I think he communicates God's Word is such a great way. I definitely needed a reminder this week as we go through the struggle of infertility. I needed assurance that God is working all this together for His purpose.

Isn't it cool how God shows up just when you need an encouraging word.

For anyone in need of a fresh word, I hope you find this encouraging today.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.- Romans 8:26-28
If anybody has been through a deep valley and rested on the promises of God, they've likely been to Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." That verse is so powerful you could comfort a Christian just by saying the reference. Going through a hard time? - Romans 8:28 - and they'd know what you mean.

Why is this passage so powerful? It begins with confidence, "And we know." We don't merely think, we don't wonder, we know. The word know communicates experiential knowledge - the kind that comes from life. You didn't go to church or to college to have this explained to you. You didn't Google the answer. You know only because you've been through it. Over time you've come to know something that only those who love God can know.

Only God's children - those who have turned from their sin and embraced Christ by faith, those who are increasingly learning how to love God more and more - understand the great promise of this verse. Only those who have tested the promises of God and proven once again His faithful love can know this.

I woke up in the middle of the night this week. While there have been times when fears have descended like a cold cloud in those dark hours, this time I laid in bed and talked with the Lord. I told Him how much I loved Him. I have found that the more you go through in life, the more you love the Lord. Can you identify? You test His promises and find Him to be so good and faithful. He knows what He is doing. He is worthy of every moment of trust.

Have life's difficulties caught you off guard? Do you wonder today if God is good? If He wasn't going to use that hard thing for your good, it wouldn't have happened. He had to sign off on every single thing that touches your life (He's sovereign, remember?). If He let it happen, He's going to use it for good. That's not to say He wanted it; He's not the cause of evil, but He is the solution. He's the master chess player who takes every move we make or someone else makes and strategizes the next move to ensure His purposes are accomplished.

I have come to realize over time that the ultimate good of Romans 8:28 is not "my little blueprint for my life"; the ultimate good is God's blueprint for the universe and my place in it. I'm committed to God's purposes. I want His will to be fulfilled and His kingdom to advance. I want to be a part of that.

I believe God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him; for the good of those who are the called according to His purpose.