Good Works

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV

I've heard this verse my whole life, usually in the King James version: all things work together for good to them that love God. We spent hours listening to sermons and teachings about sorrow, pain, misfortune...that in all of these we should find something good. That God is allowing this and something good will come of it.

Well pardon my French but, yeah...no. There are some things that there is no good, nada, zilch. God may be there, but in our human existence there is sometimes just no good to be found.

Which is why I'm loving this NIV version. My wordsmithing English major mind is doing backflips over it! Look at how its worded: in all things God works for the good of those who love him. Epiphany! This verse isn't saying there's something good in everything. It says that in all things God works for our good. No matter what we are going through God is there with us doing a work in us. A good work. We may never see the light of that good work. But the finished product brings us closer to him, closer to fellowship with him. I've said it many times, He is not interested in our comfort. He is working to purify us for eternal fellowship with him. Just as we know there are some things more important than where we live, what we do for a living, so God knows there is one thing more important than anything else: our soul resting with him for eternity.

So take a new look at this verse. Read it in another version. Let the words melt into your soul and enlighten your spirit. God loves you so much that he uses everything to do a good work in you.