Its all Good - Romans 8:26-37

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Overcoming Depression Part 3

“It’s All Good”

Romans 8:28-37

Have you ever read the account of Joseph in Genesis (starting in chapter 41)?  Young Joseph is the ‘favorite’ of his dad Isaac, but he ends up having one bad thing after another happen to him.  He finally ends up an an Egyptian jail, under false charges.  There is a glimmer of hope as a cupbearer promises to remember him when he gets out, but of course he forgot!

1.         That account is a setup for our message today, because we could all relate to Joseph at some point in our life.

a.    When it seems like everything is working against us.  Nothing is going our way. 

b.    And we wonder, "can anything good come from this?"

2.         There are some times in our life when bad things happen, and we can see the good that came out of it.

a.    There are other times when bad things happen, and maybe we don’t see the good, but we trust that something good surely will come from it...

b.    Then there the those times when when something hits us right between the eyes, - trial- travesty - tragedy - and we think to ourselves “NOTHING good will come of this at all!”

3.         And the question always comes up in our mind “What is God doing?  How could God let this happen? Is He even paying attention?

a.    The answer to that question is yes, but we have to realze that sometimes there's a bigger picture, a greater good in motion.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Spiritual Surgery

We went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment. (Ps 66:12)

As Christians we can sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that because we are Christians, and God loves us, that our life is supposed to be good, all the time. I mean, God is good, all the time, right?  Our lives ought to be one big bless-fest, and if anything comes into our live that is bad, or hard, then somewhere along the line we must have done something wrong.  Somehow we’ve failed God, and now He’s punishing us.  Funny that it never occurs to us that sometimes God allows difficult things into our life because he loves us.  Hard as it may seem to grasp, it’s true. 

The truth is, our Heavenly Father uses everything that comes into our live for a purpose, as Romans 8:28 teaches us “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” It doesn't say “good things work together,” it says “all things work together.”  

A difficulty in life can serve many purposes, for instance when we do something dumb, the ensuing repercussion is instrumental in teaching us a valuable lesson (I’ll never do that again!).

Another reason God allows a trial into our life to perform what I call “spiritual surgery.” Spiritual surgery is an event where God is either adding something to us that we are in desperate need of (I can think of many things He has had to add to me!), or removing something from us that is going to hinder us going forward.  Whatever the case, it’s never pleasant.

This Sunday we’ll be finishing up 1 Samuel 23, and watching as God performs spiritual surgery on David.  What is it God is removing from David?  You’ll just have to come and hear. 

Oh and also, we’ll be taking communion together.  Personally, I can’t wait!  (by the way, if you’re reading this and aren’t able to attend, you can get our messages each week by clicking here).

Pastor Clay