“All things work together for the good of those who love God.” This is the most wonderful truth, but let’s not misunderstand this. At times, Christians take a position that is very much akin to a system of thought called stoicism which was very influential in Paul’s time. Paul was aware of it and yet he seems to present a view that directly contrasts it here in Romans 8. The Stoics believed that everything was fated to be as it is and that there is an ultimate reason for everything that happens whether we perceive it or not. The stoics taught that, to be happy, one must learn to accept what happens to us, that is, accept that it could not be any other way. What appears as tragedy is, from another perspective, the way things must be for some higher rational plan. This is stoicism, and it is reflected in cliche statements like “everything happens for a reason.” Well, Paul goes in the very opposite direction. The world is not the way God wants it to be and, therefore, Paul says, Christians “groan inwardly,” more than most, because our hope compels us to be discontent with the world in its fallen state. This is far from stoicism. You don’t need to accept your sufferings. We of all people know that sickness, death and suffering are not God’s plan at all. However, the promise of God is that through all the terrible things that happen in this world God works for our good. We will meet God in the hardest and darkest places and find him working every circumstance into his perfect will.
Focus on verse 28 of Romans 8. What good did God bring out of your last time of hardship?
Reflect on Matthew 7:24-27 along with Romans 8:18-28
