August 19, 2020
For Our Good
Romans 8:26-39
Nicole Berry
Central Truth
When overwhelmed by the weight of our sin or the hurt and pain we see and experience in our own life, we need to look to God. Look to the steadiness of Christ, knowing that He holds all things together, sanctifying us one day at time.
Key Verse | Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:26-39
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because 1 8:27 Or that the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, 2 8:28 Some manuscripts God works all things together for good, or God works in all things for the good for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
God's Everlasting Love
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be 3 8:31 Or who is against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 4 8:34 Or Is it Christ Jesus who died for us? 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Dive Deeper | Romans 8:26-39
My question to you is this: Do we truly believe this verse? Do we believe that "all things" work together for our good?
What about the time I experienced seeing my father fight for his life in the ER, or the time I wrestled with deep anxiety and doubted God's goodness, or the times injustice has been rampant in our nation? In all those times, He works for our good? How can that be? How can pain and suffering become a precursor for goodness?
We have to understand God's character to understand this passage fully. We have to remember His sovereignty, control, and purpose behind it all. Pain and suffering is guaranteed in a broken world. John 16:33 tells us, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." What a beautiful reminder! Romans 5:3-4 explains, "[W]e rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." Trials and tribulations are sharpening, hard, and beautiful all at the same time.
Here's the thing: God is constantly sanctifying us. God's promise in Romans 8:28 means that He's already at work in our hearts, reshaping everything for our good. Through tribulation, persecution, pain—God can redeem all of these and more. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" (Romans 8:35). NOTHING! Nothing can stop the redemption process. No matter the sin that entangles us or the injustice that so clearly hurts us, God is working.
Paul concludes in Romans 8:38-39: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Nothing can stop God from working all things for good—not even you.
Discussion Questions
1. In which ways have you seen God "work all things together" in your life?
2. What verses have you instilled in your heart to remind yourself that God is FOR you?
3. Have you doubted God's goodness in the midst of trials?
4. How can you remind yourself of God's steadfastness when times are tough?