A while ago, I came across a heartbreaking story. Jane Kakenyi, a Baringo-based pastor, lost three of her four children in a boat accident. The three were part of her church’s youth group travelling to attend a church meeting.
I found myself thinking of this story in light of two Scriptures, perhaps most quoted in religious circles –Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
By all accounts, these verses present a powerful statement of faith. Everything works for the good of the saints for whom God Has good plans.
Totally assuring.
No matter what happens, God is with us and for us and will carry us through to the end.
Though I thought I believed these verses, having read and recited them severally, I wasn’t too sure I believed them in light of Pst. Jane’s ordeal.
How does the death of one’s three children amount to God’s good plans? Or waiting on God for the fruit of the womb, miscarrying severally, and when you finally give birth, the baby succumbs to a trivial disease five months later… How does that work together for the good of the family? How does your fiancée walking out on you a day before your wedding good?
There are many examples, but the more I thought about it, the angrier and more disillusioned I got with God.
Why, I couldn’t stop asking myself. Why would a loving God allow the people He claims to love to go through all that?
All means all
Then it dawned on me. I had a skewed understanding of these Scriptures.
Maybe I was too optimistic that I forgot the reality –we live in a real world reeling from the consequences of sin. I was thinking of these verses in terms of good things happening and did not give room for evil (i.e., bad things happening to God’s people).
When the Bible says all things work together for our good, it means all. And all means all, good and bad things.
When God, through Prophet Jeremiah, tells us that He Has good plans for us, nowhere does it say that it won’t involve painful times.
As hard as saying this is, sometimes our ultimate good entails going through the most painful situations.
Sometimes, our ultimate good entails going through the most painful situations.
Friend, don’t fall into the trap I did. I know that sometimes we want to believe (read assume) that life will turn out just as we desire or plan it to. That it will be all good. No pain, no suffering.
Well, that’s an ideal life that only Adam and Eve lived in before the fall. Right from the time of the Old Testament characters, the reality of the fall has been evident. People have experienced varying levels of pain and suffering.
Please don’t imagine you are the only one going through hell on earth. The degree and frequency of pain and suffering might vary, but the constant is that everyone goes through their fair share of pain and suffering.
So, if your philosophy or theology does not have space for pain and suffering, drop it like yesterday. It doesn’t pass the test of Scripture and life and will leave you disillusioned and blaming God when you should be leaning on Him to carry you through the difficult situation or season.
How is it working for my good?
Good, I get you. But how does this particular painful situation work for my good?
I won’t attempt to answer that since I don’t have access to God’s diary. I can only say what the Bible says: all things work together for good. ‘All’ includes the difficult situation you are going through.
God might make it clear in your lifetime, and you will join the dots. Sometimes, you will get to know the complete picture on the other side of eternity –heaven. Whatever the case, lean on Him. Pray humbly to Him and allow Him to give you His peace that surpasses human understanding (Philippians 4:7-8).
Good God, bad things?
If God is that good, why would He allow such bad things to happen to me?
I don’t know, but could the bad things work out your ultimate good? To propel you to fulfill your purpose.
The text tells us that all things work together for good for those who love God; the people who love God are called according to His purpose.
God Has a purpose for each one of us. To get to our desired end and attain God’s purpose for our lives, the journey may include some bumps called suffering. It may not be a sweet experience, but the desired end after persevering is desirous.
You might not make sense of the difficult times in the thick of it, but one day, you will look back and be glad God allowed you to go through all that to get where you are.
Paul remarks that the present sufferings do not compare to the glory that awaits us (Romans 8:18). The light and momentary troubles in the world are working out a greater eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).
God does not allow suffering into our lives just for the sake of it. Any pain He allows to come our way is designed for our good to accomplish a specific goal in our lives.
How do I know this?
I love you~God
He loves me. He loves me too, that He laid down His life for me. Love does not hurt intentionally. If you claim to love someone and hurt them intentionally, that’s not love. Find another word for it.
So if it comes my way, it is for my good. We often do not doubt God’s power but His willingness to intervene in our situations. You can be sure God is able and willing to help because He loves you deeply. If He doesn’t intervene, it is for your good, even if it is painful.
Conclusion: All Things Work Together for Good?
All that God allows our way is meant for our good. God can also harness seemingly bad and painful situations to work out for our good and ultimately lead us to our desired end and future. Yes, to work out His purposes in our lives.
This, however, should not be taken as a promotion of masochism. God is not a sadist who goes about inflicting pain arbitrarily. He does so many good things for us that should not be eroded by the painful seasons. Every day, let’s wake up with the hope and assurance of the coming good.