Many of us as Christians expect good to happen to us consistently and have expectations that our God will deliver on this. We are disappointed when you perceive that He doesn’t. But, if you look at scripture, you discover many times what happens to Christ-followers are not good. What we want to happen and what actually happens does not jibe with our expectations.
We discover that hope is different than good. Romans 8:28 will explain what I am trying to say, “28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose.” God wants us to believe that “in all things God works for the good.” Paul the Apostlestarts off this verse by stating that it is important for believers to “know that in all things God works for the good.” This is our hope. Many of you may say that you do not and cannot believe this. For example, your family of origin may have been horrific, one of your dear family members or friends has a chronic even deadly illness, you may have been abused, falsely accused, born with a handicap, etc. I admit each of these are not good. However, I know that God can use these for good.
You may ask how I can believe this. Look in Romans 8:29 and you will find the secret, “29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” God’s driving desire is for each of us is “to be conformed to the image of his Son.” He meticulously allows things in our lives to occur that have the final results of producing the character of His son. He wants each of as Christ followers to look and behave like His son. Many these experiences may not be fun…they may not be “good.” But, I guarantee all to these experiences, He will use “for the good.”
I will leave you with a metaphor of baking a cake. If you took each of the ingredients like raw eggs, flour, oil, etc. and ate them by themselves, you would not like the experience at all. Each of these on their own do not taste “good.” However, these ingredients mixed together correctly end up with a wonderful recipe. Once, they all are beat up together “for the good,” a delicious cake is produced. Likewise, God does the same things in our life. “We know that in all things God is mixing together for the good” to ensure your life looks like the character of Christ. Amen!
Barnabas Man 