We are quick to classify significant events as either “tragic” or “triumphant” based on our extremely limited knowledge and insight. However, we need to admit that such simplistic classifications do not and cannot fully describe nor explain the whys and wherefores of such events.
What is so readily visible to us in our life experiences and situations is so small in comparison to what God knows, sees, and purposes for us. He sees and knows the big and eternal picture of the world in which we live. And he knows every little detail about us because he created us and breathed life and purpose into our bodies. And so, it is only reasonable to believe that his perspective of any event or situation happening to us would be much different and more accurate than ours.
In Romans 8:26-28, apostle Paul, encourages us with this reassurance – “… the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. … the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Paul then continues in verses 31-39 by asking two questions. His first question in verses 31-32, is “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
Paul is emphatically trying to convince us that written on the underside of every experience in our life, both the good and bad, is the holy seal of assurance, “God is for you.” Unfortunately, some have misread verse 28 and being disappointed, have become confused and discouraged. It is especially important for us to note what this verse does not say as well as what it does say.
- It does not say God causes everything that happens. He does not.
- It does not say that everything that happens is “good.” It is not.
- It does not say that all things are working for the “good” in terms of health, wealth, and success. They are not.
- It does not say that everything is going to work out for “good” for all people. The truth is that God can do some things for those walking with him that he cannot do for those running away from him.
Verse 29 clearly identifies the “good” promised in this scripture as the ability “to be conformed to the image of his Son.” To accomplish this, God uses all things, the good and the bad, the joys and the tears, the successes, and the failures to shape us into the likeness of his Son, Jesus. And we can be assured that God does not waste any events or experiences in our life and world toward accomplishing his purpose of transforming us into the person he created us to become.
We know this because God is for us. Pause for a moment and think about what you just read. God is for you! It does not say that God “may be” of “has been” or “was” or “will be” for you, but rather “God is for you.” Can I really believe that today, at this very minute and every minute, God is for me? The biblical answer is “YES”!
Paul’s second question is this – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Remembering his personal experiences of hardships and sufferings, Paul lists those things that can cause us to question God’s love for us, and emphatically declares that none of these things can ever, ever separate us from Christ’s love.
Rather than separating us from the love of Christ, Paul declares that these difficulties and sufferings make us “more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (v.37). Our sufferings do not separate us from the love of Christ, but rather they strengthen our bond of relationship with Christ as the dearly loved, adopted children of God.
In verse 38 Paul answers his own two questions, with a powerful, all-inclusive declaration regarding the love of God for us – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is Paul’s testimony of faith from his own life of many difficult, life-threatening experiences.
Remembering my own journeys through times of difficult and painful sufferings, I can affirm that God is present with us every moment or every day. He keeps his promise “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” He is by our side cheering us on, applauding our accomplishments. He is there to pick us up when we stumble and fall, and he puts his arms around us to comfort us when we hurt and cry. God is always for us, and in every situation of life working for our good. Thanks be to God!
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – June 23, 2021
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
Comments on: "God Is for You" (2)
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Hello Ray. I have been trying to reach you. We would like to visit you Saturday afternoon if it suits you.
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