Read: Romans 8: 28

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

Reflect:

There are days that are harder than others. Today I spoke with a friend whose wife is facing a second surgery in less than a month. He told me she is despondent over the possibilities, has lost hope and is dwelling only on the “worst-case” scenario. While her husband has a glass-half-full perspective, her’s is typically half-empty.

And so I am reminded of a lady many of you will not know a lady named Penny Smith. Penny and her husband, Mike, faced over an eighteen-month health battle period (some years ago), but I was always amazed at how Penny embraced God in the pain right up to the time of her death on a New Year’s Day.

Time and again she expressed the confidence of the verse listed above as she thought of how God might use her circumstances to reach the ones she cared most deeply for in this world.

People respond to tragedies in two primary ways.

We’ve all seen some who throw their arms up or stiff-arm God or even turn away while others face the pain in their lives with open their arms and run toward God even when they don’t understand the big picture. To be honest, I’ve seen some things where I still don’t see how God is working all things together for good, but my vision is somewhat limited, isn’t it?

Respond:

I’ve heard a pastor quote this saying many times – “God’s love is not a pampering love. God’s love is a perfecting love.”

Romans 8 tells us that we are conquerors through Him who loved us. So when we face periods of tribulation, distress, persecution, a lack of food or clothing, or danger of any kind we can have confidence in the love of God in our lives.

As always it all comes down to a matter of trust and surrender as we choose to embrace God’s love in our lives day after day.