We know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28-29 BSB).

We can throw the words of this verse around with casual ease, and not understand the richness or seriousness of its meaning.   

Laura Story’s song “Blessings” includes these lyrics:

What if my greatest disappointments/ Or the aching of this life /Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy?

What if the trials of this life /The rain, the storms, the hardest nights/Are Your mercies in disguise?

When I hear these questions, I think of Joseph in Genesis, speaking to brothers who sold him into slavery: “What you meant for evil, God has used for good.”

Joseph was explaining to them, and to us, this profound truth: God works all things together for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. God was working Joseph’s bitter circumstances for a sweet purpose that would result in the provision of Jesus for you and me.

Even though we face difficulties and tears, God will weave all – from beginning to eternity – into his tapestry of salvation for us and those our lives touch.

Prayer:
Father, help me to realize that you are using everything in my life – both bitter and sweet – to conform me to the image of your Son and to help others know him.