Romans 8:28 – A Wonderful Passage to Retain Perspective

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those that love Him and have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28.

That’s a passage that I’ve had to repeat to myself several times over the past few weeks. Times have been bleak; I have been struggling in almost every facet of my life recently.

Passed over for promotion? Check.

Struggling as a parent? Check.

Burnt out from working too much? Double check.

Depressed over my self-imposed failures? Definitely.

Discontent over the things that I can’t provide? For sure.

And yet, Romans 8:28 remains as true today as it was when it was written.

In the midst of despair and struggle, it’s odd that these words provide hope and embarrassment at the same time. I should be stronger. I shouldn’t let things bother me so much. If I had more faith, maybe I would trust God to handle our needs.

And I believe that’s kind of the self-fulfilling prophecy that spirals downward. People, in general, tend to be hardest on themselves. In the remote corners of the mind, there’s always something that we should be doing better. The hope comes when one realizes that God loves us the way that we are, not the way that we are capable of.

Now, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t strive to become better, but it does mean simply that. I am a forgetful, selfish, ambitious and prideful man. I’m working on my deficiencies, but that doesn’t mean that God loves me any less. Moreover, I am limiting the power of God by even implying that to be the case!

In the darkness, it’s difficult to see the bigger picture

To struggle is to be human. It’s the curse of man since the fall of Adam. Endless toil; I can certainly attest to that. But we see problems differently than God. Isaiah 55:8 tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”

So what we perceive to be a problem or a difficulty may not be so. And I suppose that’s heartening, but it hardly feels like it. However, the point is that we don’t see the bigger picture, or the whole plan until it is revealed. Hence the phrase, “A blessing in disguise.”

Because we can’t think like God and we can’t know the plan, we assume the problem at the micro level IS the plan. It’s not until some time after when we can accurately gauge how things turned out. Because of Romans 8:28, we know that regardless of the outcome, it’s in our best interest — provided of course that we love God.

Everything happens for a reason

Honestly, I can’t stand that sentiment. It’s one of the most repeated phrases Christians utter when attempting to console a loved one. It has the best of intentions, but to the recipient, it is heart-breaking. Not only do we not know the reason a tragedy occurred, but we’re supposed to just be alright with it because of a flippant statement like that?

Furthermore, it removes any burden of responsibility for our actions. I’ve talked about this before, but if everything works according to God’s plan (which it does), but I assume no responsibility and fail, then does that mean it was God’s intention for me to fail?

No, it just means that I didn’t do my part. God will give us the tools to succeed, but we still have to do the work. And that’s why I prefer Romans 8:28 to the aforementioned statement. We demonstrate our love for God by doing all things in the honor of His glory. The things we do are the things we are called to, according to his purpose.

But just what is that purpose?

This is the part where things get tricky, at least for me. I know what my purpose is. I am to be a good father and husband. I am to provide, nurture, and care for my family. I am to be the spiritual head of the household.

I am to be a professional and proficient Fire Captain to serve my community. I am to provide for the needs of the less fortunate and care for them with love and compassion.

But is that my purpose, according to God? Who can say? It would be awfully ostentatious for me to presume to know what God’s purpose for me is, so isn’t that a bit of an oxymoron? How can I fulfill my purpose in order to gain God’s favor if I have no idea what my purpose is?

That is, perhaps, the biggest conundrum of Romans 8:28.

I WANT to fulfill my purpose, according to God’s plan – not mine. I’ve tried my plan for quite some time and it is hilariously futile. If anyone can tell my what my purpose is or how to attain this knowledge, please let me know.

In the meantime, I’m just going to trust that I am doing it, and that God is doing all things for my good, even when I can’t see it.