When God Throws a Little Bit of “All Things” in Your Life

by Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

“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).

Friend to Friend

I love Romans 8:28.

Now, let me be honest…sometimes I don’t.

When I am going through a dark time of loss or disappointment, and someone throws a sloppy coat of Romans 8:28 on my open wound, I just want to scream.

There. I said it.

What does God mean by “all things” anyway? I looked it up in my Greek dictionary and guess what it means—it means “all things.” I was hoping for something a little different.
“All things” includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. In every dark circumstance of life, there is a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. However, for that to happen, we must get out of the dirt, push it aside, and look beneath the surface.

Is it easy? No. 

Is it messy? Usually.

 It is worth it? Always.

Many years after we had lost our second child, I was standing in the doorway of my sleeping sixteen-year-old, son’s bedroom. He was a tangle of sheets and limbs. Steven was six feet tall, needed a shave, and sported a mass of shaggy thick brown hair. Drool slid down his jaw, and a hairy leg hung off the bed.

Man, I love this kid, I thought to myself. Then a prayer slipped off my lips.

“Lord,” I prayed, “you know how much I love children, and how I always longed to have a houseful of kids. Why was there just one?”

Then, God’s Word washed over me: For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
“Is that You Lord?” I asked.

Again the words flowed. For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The words washed over me like a spring rain on parched ground. It was a moment of sudden glory. For the first time in my life, I truly grasped the height, the depth, and the breadth of those familiar words. 

See, I have a one and only son. There are many people whom I love in this world, but there is no one… no one… that I love enough to sacrifice my one and only son. And yet, God loved me so much He did that just. He loved you so much He did just that. He sacrificed His one and only Son in order to save us from the penalty of sin and give us eternal life. 

With tears streaming down my cheeks, I thanked God for helping me truly understand John 3:16—for giving me a living, breathing, walking (and sometimes sleeping) example of His great love. And if that was the only purpose behind the years of infertility and loss of a child, then that was enough.

It was Romans 8:28. It was good.

Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your great love for me. Thank You for giving Your Son for me. Open my eyes to see moments of sudden glory where You make Your presence known in my life. I love You so much.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.


Today's Bible Verse...
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.—1 Peter 1:8-9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...Can you trust what you don't see? Of course! What kind of question is that? Our lives depend on what we cannot see — things like gravity and the air we breathe, just to name two. Faith in Jesus is as natural as faith in each of those things. The problem is that our hearts are skeptical. We find it hard to believe that anyone divine would love us so much. Our experience says, "If it seems too good to be true, it is." That skepticism is just the twisted form of the response God longs to see from us: "inexpressible and glorious joy." I don't know about you, but I've tasted both. I prefer joy over skepticism!

My Prayer...What joy fills my heart, Father, when I anticipate what it will be like to be in your presence — to have you wipe each tear from my eyes and to have you introduce me again to those I love and to those I've only known by reputation. Please never let me outlive that sense of anticipation and never let that hope dim in my heart, no matter what else may happen in my life here. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

Today's Verse Illustrated...

Church Visitors in the Spotlight by Rob Portlock