What does Romans say about suffering?Sample

Our Trustworthy God

Have your plans been derailed? Have your dreams experienced a detour? Has your timeline for your life taken an unforeseen turn?

It’s been said that God works in mysterious ways—and how His supreme power and authority interplays with human choices is laced with mystery.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul acknowledges the unexpected hardships, suffering, and corruption the believers were dealing with at that time. But he also encourages them with these words:

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. ‭‭

Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Maybe you lost a loved one.

Maybe someone you respect disappointed you.

Maybe your child received a hard diagnosis.

Maybe your job title shifted, which has shaken your identity.

Maybe reality has deflated your high expectations.

Maybe you made a decision you regret.

Maybe you’ve found yourself questioning God.

Maybe someone you love walked away.

Maybe you put your whole heart into something or someone, but it didn’t go how you hoped.

Though it might seem hard to believe, God can use it all.

The good and the bad.

The polished and the messy.

The planned and the unsettled.

The clear and the misunderstood.

The encouraging and the hurtful.

God can work everything together for good. This doesn't mean that everything will be good, or that everything will work out the way we want or expect. After all, we live in a broken, messy world.

But—we can rest in the confident assurance that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, interceding, advocating, celebrating, and grieving with us. And one day, we will see the complete picture He is painting in our lives. Nothing we go through is wasted.

And how does He do it?

That’s where we have to lean into the mystery of God, because we cannot fully comprehend an infinite God.

But if you think back on your own life, there were probably things that didn’t make sense and maybe even seemed impossible, but now you see how God somehow worked everything out.

God can use it all—including the things you can’t comprehend—in ways you can’t begin to fathom. Even when you can’t see Him at work in your life. Even when hope seems lost. Even when things don’t seem to be going your way. Even long after you’re gone.

In everything, you can trust in Him.