"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Somehow I keep coming back to this verse. I asked my cell today what they understood by this verse, and the common answer was that in our lives, many things happen, both good and bad, and we may not understand the reasons why at that point. But God uses everything for our good, to make us better, to bring us closer to him. And that is so true. Though this may be cliche, but life is really like a rollercoaster. Just when we thought things were going fine and smooth, God throws in another turn or bend. Through all the years I have learned one thing- that his thoughts are way beyond ours, and he always has something unexpected. Indeed when God works in our lives, it is always in ways that we least expected. And there is another dimension beyond what happens externally- our own hearts are the greatest battlefields. We are our greatest enemies. If life were a rollercoaster, we would be trains that would fly off the tracks the moment we were not held fast by the hand of God. Looking back I realise that the only things that have been constant in my life, are my own failure, and God's love, forgiveness and redemption. How many times, and how quickly, we have strayed from God! But every time God has been there to pick us up and set us back gently on the right track. And when He said "all things work together for good", He meant all things. God uses even our own failures, our own weaknesses, to show us how undependable we are, and how we desperately need God's love and strength. To humble us and help us to find our place in Him.
This verse, we must realise, is a testimony of the greatness and depth of God's love for us- that He will never allow those who love Him to be moved; that He will use every single thing , good or bad, that happens in our lives for our good and to bring us closer to Him. We may not understand fully, but on hindsight we will see that it is true. It is no wonder that the same chapter of Romans 8 contains these words, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, not life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." v. 38-39. As I am writing this I am aware of the weakness of my heart, and I know that before this day is over I would have sinned, many times probably. But, while God's love is not an excuse for us to sin, as we take up our cross and follow him daily God's love triumphs over our sin and weakness. As we pour every bit of our heart and strength into seeking and following Him, His strength will guide us and prevail where our own strength fails. Reflect upon the depth of His love, and receive it into your heart this day, and respond to it wholeheartedly. If you are confused or struggling with something in your life, or God seems to be a million miles away, know the depth of God's love, and remember Romans 8:28.
Somehow I keep coming back to this verse. I asked my cell today what they understood by this verse, and the common answer was that in our lives, many things happen, both good and bad, and we may not understand the reasons why at that point. But God uses everything for our good, to make us better, to bring us closer to him. And that is so true. Though this may be cliche, but life is really like a rollercoaster. Just when we thought things were going fine and smooth, God throws in another turn or bend. Through all the years I have learned one thing- that his thoughts are way beyond ours, and he always has something unexpected. Indeed when God works in our lives, it is always in ways that we least expected. And there is another dimension beyond what happens externally- our own hearts are the greatest battlefields. We are our greatest enemies. If life were a rollercoaster, we would be trains that would fly off the tracks the moment we were not held fast by the hand of God. Looking back I realise that the only things that have been constant in my life, are my own failure, and God's love, forgiveness and redemption. How many times, and how quickly, we have strayed from God! But every time God has been there to pick us up and set us back gently on the right track. And when He said "all things work together for good", He meant all things. God uses even our own failures, our own weaknesses, to show us how undependable we are, and how we desperately need God's love and strength. To humble us and help us to find our place in Him.
This verse, we must realise, is a testimony of the greatness and depth of God's love for us- that He will never allow those who love Him to be moved; that He will use every single thing , good or bad, that happens in our lives for our good and to bring us closer to Him. We may not understand fully, but on hindsight we will see that it is true. It is no wonder that the same chapter of Romans 8 contains these words, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, not life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." v. 38-39. As I am writing this I am aware of the weakness of my heart, and I know that before this day is over I would have sinned, many times probably. But, while God's love is not an excuse for us to sin, as we take up our cross and follow him daily God's love triumphs over our sin and weakness. As we pour every bit of our heart and strength into seeking and following Him, His strength will guide us and prevail where our own strength fails. Reflect upon the depth of His love, and receive it into your heart this day, and respond to it wholeheartedly. If you are confused or struggling with something in your life, or God seems to be a million miles away, know the depth of God's love, and remember Romans 8:28.
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