It's working for your good!

I don’t have a lot today, by way of introduction. I just really wanted to jump in and remind you that all things are working for your good. I know it’s not deep or highly theological but it’s real and something that people of faith often need to be reminded of. I keep hearing Travis Greene singing in my spirit, “all things are working for your good. He’s intentional…never failing!” It’s echoing loudly all around me this morning and I had to share it with you. I don’t know if it’s because God is encouraging me in the midst of challenging me to do more with less or because He knows that we as His people are in a constant battle with the enemy and our own flesh. It’s probably both! But I can say this, you will survive this and you will prosper. The grief can’t kill you. Sickness can’t stop you. Attacks can’t take you out. Nope! All things are working for your good today!

I love Romans 8:28! I mean REALLY love this scripture! Why? Because there are days that I have looked at my life and wondered what the point was. I’ve had debt choke me, struggled with my purpose and my call, and doubted myself as a wife and mother. I’ve had friends hurt me, lost relationships, and grieved for family. But in all of that, God has always put this word in front of me. He’s always reminded me that no matter what I face, He is there and He is working things for my good because I love Him and whether I understand it or not, I’m called according to His purpose. I’m not sure how this turned so personal or transparent but I think someone needs to read it. Someone has reached the limit and can’t see how they are going to get through today much less next week or next year. Someone knows God but just can’t see Him working in their life. And so here I am to tell you that He is. The Voice translation really spoke to me today. I had never read this version but it slapped me hard and it caused me to go back all the way to verse 23 of Romans 8.

“And there is more; it’s not just creation—all of us are groaning together too. Though we have already tasted the firstfruits of the Spirit, we are longing for the total redemption of our bodies that comes when our adoption as children of God is complete— for we have been saved in this hope and for this future. But hope does not involve what we already have or see. For who goes around hoping for what he already has?  But if we wait expectantly for things we have never seen, then we hope with true perseverance and eager anticipation. A similar thing happens when we pray. We are weak and do not know how to pray, so the Spirit steps in and articulates prayers for us with groaning too profound for words.  Don’t you know that He who pursues and explores the human heart intimately knows the Spirit’s mind because He pleads to God for His saints to align their lives with the will of God? We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.  From the distant past, His eternal love reached into the future. You see, He knew those who would be His one day, and He chose them beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of a new family of believers, all brothers and sisters. As for those He chose beforehand, He called them to a different destiny so that they would experience what it means to be made right with God and share in His glory.  So what should we say about all of this? If God is on our side, then tell me: whom should we fear?” (Romans 8:23-31 VOICE)

The bold phrases were highlighted and they told me a story that really blessed me this morning. God is in this thing with you! He is in that adoption process. He is in that ministry. He is in that conference. He is in that interview. He is in that marriage. He is writing that book. He is with you and He has great plans for you. There is more! I loved that! In the midst of the struggle that life can be, He is working things for your good and not just randomly. He knows you intimately and He knew from the beginning that He would have to walk you through some hard places and that’s why He sent Jesus to redeem and restore you. Do you get it? You have nothing to fear from man or the enemy, if you have God on your side and YOU DO!

Saints, be encouraged today that all things are working for your good. Verse 28 says that…” God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.” Do you know what orchestrate means? It means to arrange or control the elements of, as to achieve a desired overall effect; to arrange, organize, or build up for special or maximum effect!! What?! God is in control of everything that is happening and He is working it to achieve HIS desired effect. And you know what? It’s going to be BEAUTIFUL! Get out of the way and trust Him to work it out! I promise you that the end result will be better than you imagined!

Amen…