All Things Work Together For Good For God’s Children

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

Romans 8:28

Dear Kids,

We may never really know why certain things happen to us. Plans change, friends disappoint, or life takes a hairpin turn we weren’t expecting. But there is one thing about which we can be certain: God never loses control and He makes all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This truth generates calming peace and strong encouragement for believers when circumstances leave us confused and disappointed.

Disrupted Plans

We had made our plans weeks ago. This past weekend John-Keith walked down the collegiate aisle to receive the reward of persevering through a rigorous Master’s program. And Dad and I scheduled time off and a flight to Massachusetts so we could be there. We left for the airport around 3 PM on Friday afternoon with plenty of time to board our 6:15 flight to Boston. Upon arrival we scanned to get our boarding passes, maneuvered our way through the snaking line of passengers waiting for a security check, and finally found a seat near our assigned gate to wait for the call to board.

I snuggled down to read a good book while Dad finished up some business on his computer. The time approached and we were mildly frustrated to receive notice of a delay in our departure. The second delay brought stronger ripples of aggravation. And by the third notice we decided we’d better get something to eat and found ourselves at the only open vendor sharing a $13 one person pizza and $5 bottle of water.

It wasn’t until after the 5^th delay notice that we received the heartbreaking news. Our flight, with our airplane still sitting at JFK airport, was canceled. There would be no trip to Boston, no celebrating the graduation in person, no hugs and kisses from granddaughters, and no stimulating face-to-face conversations with our Boston-area family members. There was nothing to do but go home.

Disheartened we retraced our path through the large, now mostly empty, corridors of the large airport. The bars on all of the shops and food vendor outlets created a sort of jail cell that seemed to mock our despondency at being stuck in Ohio instead of flying in the friendly skies.

God Makes All Things Work Together for Good

We really have no idea why God chose to shut the doors on this opportunity to visit and celebrate with John-Keith and Naomi. But we do know that His ways, beyond our understanding, are perfect and work together for good as we choose to love and trust Him with our lives.

Perhaps this change in plans created space for a much needed rest. Or maybe it was a test to strengthen our faith and reveal the depth of our character. Maybe these unexpected circumstances are what allowed Dad and me to spend time hiking in a nearby gorge Sunday where we came across a distressed woman needing help and became a part of the solution to her problem.

I really don’t know why! But I do know that God never loses control. He allows things in our lives for a purpose and makes all things work together for good. He doesn’t just orchestrate situations on a whim, but has planned out our lives from eternity past – even down to the cancellation of a much-anticipated flight.

God’s Purposes Never Fail

So when life takes an unexpected turn, push through the confusion and disappointment by trusting God’s heart and plan. Keep your eyes on Him and find encouragement in the truth of Romans 8:28. Even if you never know why, rest assured that He will fully accomplish His perfect purpose and plan, and will make all things work together for good to those who love Him.

Love,

Mama

Romans 8

More Encouraging Posts:

The Psalms Provide Needed Encouragement

Combating Discouragement With Prayer