Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Trials come in many shapes and sizes, with varying degrees of suffering that we go through. They often don’t make any sense to our human mind. If we do not guard our hearts and thoughts, while going through the trial, we can become very pessimistic in the face of our circumstances. Feelings of resentment can take root and produces bad fruit in our behavior. It all centers around what is in our heart, as Rom. 8:26, 27 declares, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” Then, verses 28 & 29 follow, quoted so often, but what should we do when life doesn’t make sense?
God reveals His sovereignty in the book of Job, and in the end, God vindicated and blessed Job’s faith and trust in God. As Habakkuk 2:4b, declares, “the righteous shall live by faith.” Read the end chapters of Job. God didn’t answer Job’s questions. Instead, God asks Job a series of questions, such as, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.” Job 38:4. God called for Job to understand His divine mind and character, which He calls us to do as well, submitting to His love for us and rest – abide – remain, in Him (John 15:4).
We all struggle as 1 Corinthians 10:13a reassures us, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand . . . ” God has not promised that all that happens to us in life will be pleasant. It was not pleasant when I had excruciating sciatica and arthritis pain, hindering me from being able to easily walk and drive for several months. I can think of numerous other examples in my husband’s and my life that were hard, but God, in His sovereignty, was our shield, our rock and fortress (Ps. 62:5-6), turned things around eventually for His glory and our ultimate good, and continues in doing so, until we stand in His presence.
Do I get it, looking at my own problems as they occur and don’t make any sense, at least to me? I would say I seldom see the value or reason in my problems. Yet (I) we have the promise, “And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and earth.” Ephesians 1:10, and “makes everything work out according to His plan (Ephe. 1:11b), no matter what evil Satan may bring (Rom. 8:28-39). Nothing escapes God’s will which is supreme and nothing escapes His control (Ps. 135:6). We are locked into time. God is not. Live by faith. Abide in Him. Follow His ways. Every trial will have an ending by God’s grace.
Listen to MercyMe – Make It Well (Official Lyric Video).