Daily Devotional – Tuesday, May 24, 2022
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 (NIV)
He had just left from prison and was very happy. For more than two years, he was in remand for a crime he had not committed. Ironically, there was no trace of bitterness in his speech.
His apparent joy stemmed not just from sweet freedom but also from a much greater and precious achievement. In prison, he had met Jesus! What was meant to be a negative experience was his path to eternal life.
All Things God Works for the Good of Those Who Love Him
Paul summarized this paradigm shift in Romans 8:28:
“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.”
Because we are not in prison, sick or in other misfortunes, we believe God loves us. Conversely, those who experience hardships are paying for their sins after making God unhappy, or so we think.
Paul, himself a partaker of many hardships, thinks differently. Even the worst of experiences, whether resulting from one’s action or the mistakes and malice of others, are God’s tool for your good, if you love God.
A Spiritual Paradigm Shift
If you are going through a rough patch, ask yourself,
- What lesson(s) could God be teaching me through this experience?
- Now that I know that God has a special loving purpose for me in every situation He allows into my life, what will my attitude be towards negative experiences?
Prayer
Loving God, thank You because in all things, Your purpose is my temporal and eternal good.
