Romans 8:28

Have you ever read Romans 8:28, and actually felt the power behind those words?

Romans 8:28 is one of my all time favorite Scriptures.  Of course, I have hundreds of all time favorite Scriptures, but Romans 8:28 is one of them.

Romans 8:29 - "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  NKJV

I also like the NASB - "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."


My Bible study has recently touched upon the storms, trials, and tribulations that we face in the flesh.  We all have them.  We can't escape them, and most likely, if you are Christian, you expect them.

Knowing that while you are enduring the most difficult things in life, God has a plan.  God may have brought your present troubles upon you, but most likely if you have troubles, they are coming from other sources, such as: the devil, your sinful life (we all have sin whether we like it or not), or maybe God has allowed a certain situation in your life to bring you closer to Him.

For whatever reason you might be facing a turbulent time, you can be assured "that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love" Him.

I find so much comfort knowing that.  I look at that Scripture almost daily - must be I've had a lot of trials recently.  But every time I read that Scripture, I feel the power of the Holy Spirit leading me to comfort and peace.  The anxieties of my life drift out of my mind, and I focus my attention to God and His good works.

A perfect Scriptural example of this very thing is in 2 Corinthians 11.  Paul was three times beaten with rods, shipwrecked; spent a night and a day in the deep; he had seen perils of water, robbers, of the Gentiles and much, much more.  Yet, if we look at some of these trials that Paul endured, we also see that Romans 8:28 is pure truth.

Look at Acts 16:22, 23 - " The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods.  When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely."

When Paul was thrown into jail after being 'beaten with rods' do you know what happens next?  Well, verses 25-34 of Acts 16 tells us that while Paul and Silas were singing praises, hymns, and praying to God while in jail, a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison.  The doors were opened.  The keeper of the prison woke up, seeing the doors open, supposed that the prisoners had escaped, and was about to kill himself.  Why was he going to kill himself? Well, apparently, a Roman soldier could expect execution if he let a prisoner escape through his negligence - falling asleep and letting the prisoners escape would have been considered negligence.  Therefore the jailer was willing to kill himself rather than face the humiliation of execution.

But Paul called out and told the jailer to not harm himself, because even though they could have escaped prison at that time with the doors opened wide, they had remained.  The jailer running in to Paul witnessed the prisoners all in their designated places, asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"  They told him that he needed to 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."  They spoke the Word of God to the man; and he and all his household were saved!

Imagine if Paul had not gone to jail, if he had quietly sat around in a comfortable home, not going out on the road to preach - this man and his household would not have been saved at this time.  Romans 8:29 baby!  Paul could have been sitting in jail, crying, and moaning from his wounds received after having been beaten by rods, but no, he was singing hymns, and praying, praising the Lord!  This man (the jailer) had obviously heard Paul and Silas singing and praying before the earthquake hit. I'm sure he wondered how these 2 men could have had such joy during a time of deep trial.


Acts 15:19,20 also is a great example of Romans 8:28 at work.  Paul had been stoned, and dragged outside the city of Lystria.  The Jews who had stoned Paul had left him as dead.  I'm sure the news spread throughout the city.  Many had probably heard how Paul had been killed by being stoned.  But if we read on Paul returned to Lystria, 'strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.'"  Imagine their surprise at finding Paul not only alive, but also strengthening and exhorting them to continue in faith!  God took a bad situation and turned it into a strengthening of faith lesson.  How awesome!


So when we face tribulations, trials, and hard times; I think it's important to keep an eye open for the 'good things' of the Lord too. It's easy to whine, and moan, and groan, about our trials (I know I have), but truly, the Lord usually uses those things to help us grow in faith.  Don't let that opportunity pass without seeing the good that God has brought about through that particular hardship.  It may take days, weeks, months, or years to experience what God has in store for you from dealing with the trials of your life, but one thing to always remember is that God is faithful (thank you once again, Ella).


None of us like to be tried.  None of us enjoy going through trials to reach the 'good things.'  But the Word lets us know that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."


How refreshing, how comforting, and how awesome!