God works all for good
(No, really. He does.)
“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” -Romans 8:28, RSVCE
Romans 8:28 has always been a favorite verse of mine, but I’ve really just been pondering it a lot lately and applying it to pretty much every scenario possible. St. Paul said “in everything”, after all. Not just some things. God works for good IN EVERYTHING. And it’s pretty amazing when God has shown me! I’ll share a few instances just from this week:
I caught every red light possible on the way home while in somewhat of a rush (so frustrating!), but then happened to hear the perfect song right before I got home. That would not have happened if I had conveniently caught all green lights. God works all for good.
The Holy Spirit prompted me to go to church to pray earlier than usual one day, and my spiritual director unexpectedly called me while I was there, but at the time I usually show up. If I had not gone early, I would have had to decide between answering the phone call or having my prayer time in church. (And I should tell you that he has a knack for calling at the perfect time, whether I’m aware of it or not at the time. This was one of those times.) God works all for good.
I was thinking about ordering groceries to be delivered to my house (thanks Walmart+) but decided to go to the store instead. I ended up seeing a good friend I haven’t been able to see regularly like I used to, and we were able to catch up. God works all for good.
And if you’re just still not convinced, I should tell you that Monday in particular I was just really pondering this whole idea, and literally the next morning I opened my Advent devotional to this:
And if you’re STILL not convinced, later that day I read another Substack where the writer mentioned Romans 8:28.
I used to joke that I’m so stubborn that I need reinforcements. Turns out I’m still that stubborn because God clearly thinks I need to be reminded over and over. But maybe you do too! In that case, you’re welcome.
But maybe you’re still thinking that this sounds nice and all…except in those particularly devastating scenarios. You know, someone dies. You lose your job. You get in a really bad argument with a loved one. There are scandals in the Church. How exactly are we supposed to exclaim, “God works all for good”??
I get it. I remember after our first baby boy died, I just really struggled understanding what good God could bring from it. The Lord had very clearly put on both my husband’s and my hearts to be open to children from the very beginning of our marriage. We were so ready to be parents! Why would he let our baby die? And not only that, it was in a pretty traumatic way (which maybe I will share in honor of his 15th birthday later this month. We shall see…).
Yet, I knew deep down that God indeed was working it all for our good, even though it didn’t make sense at the time. And because God knows I just really appreciate confirmations for these things, we had a sweet family (who is now pretty well known in the Catholic world) send us a note in the months following our son’s death. Clearly they already had connections with other well known Catholics, because their note was accompanied by a marriage book written by a well known Catholic. This book also had a personalized note inside, from the author, addressed to Logan (my husband) and me, expressing her condolences as well as encouragement for us moving forward. And how did the author end her note? Romans 8:28. She didn’t even write out the verse. Just “Romans 8:28”. But that’s all I needed.
Since it’s been almost 15 years now since that devastating and traumatizing experience, I could honestly list a million ways that it has indeed been for our good (but that would take me all day and I’ll spare you that). I wouldn’t want to experience it again, if I’m honest, but I can also truly say now that I’m glad it all happened the way it did. God works all for good.
It’s something I’m having to remind myself of in situations that seem pretty hopeless and even in the less serious situations that are just more frustrating than anything else. If God used the death of our first son for so much good, he can do the same for anything else.
“What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him?” - Romans 8:31-32