Romans 8:28 - “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.”
Talking to my mother, I proclaimed “We were so blessed not to lose power. God was looking out for us.” She replied, “I lost power, but we were blessed that our power was restored the next day.” I later spoke with a co-worker who said “My power is still out, but I’m so blessed that no damage was done to my house when all those trees fell.” I watched the news and saw the story of a woman who tragically had a tree fall on her house, but she, with tears in her eyes stated “I thank God that no one was hurt. No one was in the living room where the tree fell. We lost our home, but we are still very blessed.”
We all survived the same storm, yet were impacted by the storm in very different ways. The amazing thing is, you can see how each of us still saw God working in the middle of each situation. We each saw the hand of God placed upon us during the storm. We each knew that we were blessed.
But, we tend to want to attach the term “blessed” to situations that are deemed “good”. If nothing bad happens on that trip out of town, then I am blessed. If I have money to pay all my bills this month, then I am blessed. If my friends are being great friends and there is no division, then I am blessed. I agree that we are blessed in these situations, but what happens if you do have an accident on that trip? Or the amount of your bills far exceeds the amount in your bank account? What does it mean when you have a falling out with your friends and you don’t know how to repair the friendship? Are you then no longer blessed? Would you be able to see the hand of God working in your situation? Could you really believe that all things are working for your good?
Paul, the author of today’s key verse, was very familiar with stormy situations. He knew the Romans would encounter storms in their own lives and that things would get tough. He knew that some storms would be more damaging than others, but he implored them to know that in all things God works for their good. No matter what it looks like. No matter how things turned out for someone else. God is working in ALL things.
Today you may be sifting through the wreckage of a spiritual or emotional storm in your life. You may be looking at the damage and asking, what good could possibly come from this? I’d like to remind you that a similar question was asked when Nathanael heard about Jesus of Nazareth: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Just as Nathanael discovered that the Saviour of the whole world came from a place deemed hopeless, Jesus can still be found in the middle of your hopeless place. His goodness is waiting to spring forth in all things. Trust in God’s goodness. Learn to see God in the storm and know that He will always be working for the good of those who love Him! In all things, can you proclaim “I’m blessed”?
Dear Lord, most days I am able to quickly identify you working in my life, but some days I need your help. God open my eyes and my heart to see you working through all things in my life. Help me not to limit what you have blessed. God I love you and I thank you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
By: Min. April Carter
