For Good
And we know that for those who love God all things work together
for good for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to
be conformed to the image of his Son...
(Romans 8:28-29)
Good.
What exactly is "good"?
What is its origin?
What does it look like?
What does it mean for you and me?
Man's definition of good can be found in Webster's Dictionary-
"To be desired or approved of" or "to the benefit or advantage of someone or something".
We humans have it programmed in our minds and hearts that whatever is good must be desirable and beneficial before we can define it as indeed 'good'.
We often fall into the well-known trap of believing that whatever is good in life must be something easy, pleasureful, comfortable, familiar, and safe. It has to be something that our hearts tell us is delightful and fun, something that will help us and not hurt us.
Yes, this is our definition of good.
But the problem is that our standards and ideas of 'good' are not the same as God's.
We find God's definition of Good in Romans 8:28-29.
"Good" for God is whatever makes us more like his son, Jesus.
It is whatever pushes us to rely more fully upon him, and it is whatever in the world it takes for us to grow to be a little more like him- to conform to his image.
As his children, God has predestined us to grow and conform to Jesus' image by following the example that he left for us in 1 Peter-
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return: when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now
returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
(1 Peter 2:21-25)
Beloved missionary and author Elisabeth Elliot once said this-
"God will not protect you from anything that will make you more like Jesus."
God loves us far too much to keep us from anything that might cause us to be more like Jesus, and he loves us too much to keep us from the hurt that will eventually help us.
While I know this doesn't exactly help the burden of whatever situation you are facing, I have learned that it helps to rest in this thought-
Whatever seemingly not-so-good battle you are fighting right now, God has already predestined and prepared you for it. He is already there, waiting for you to trust Him even when you cannot see how in the world anything 'good' could come from it.
God has already planned and plotted every trial, hardship, and twist of the story that is your life, and he can and will use it for good.
Maybe not by your standards of good, but by His.
For all things work together for good.
