Series 07 · Verses to Live By

All ThingsWork Together

Romans 8:28 is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible, and one of the most misunderstood. See what Paul actually promised, and what “good” means in context.

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It’s often quoted to people in pain, and it can sound like a cliché.

Romans 8:28 is one of the most quoted verses in Scripture. It is often offered to people in pain, and sometimes it lands like a cliché, as if every hard thing should be called good.

In all things, God 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

Paul doesn’t say all things are good. He says that in all things, God is at work for the good of those who love Him.

The “good” is becoming like Jesus

The very next verse defines the goal: to be conformed to the image of His Son. God’s good is not always our comfort, but it is always our growth in Christ.

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.Romans 8:29 · NIV

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.Romans 8:18 · NIV

God’s goal isn’t always our comfort. It is making us more like His Son.

What it doesn’t say, and what it does

The verse doesn’t promise that everything is good, or that we will understand it now. It promises that God is working in all of it.

It doesn’t sayAll things are good

It doesn’t sayYou’ll understand it now

It does sayGod is working in all of it

neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:39 · NIV

A prayer of trust

Father, I don’t understand everything I’m walking through. I won’t pretend it’s all good, but I trust that You are working in it. Shape me to be more like Jesus, and remind me that nothing can separate me from Your love. Amen.

Pray it when nothing makes sense

Hold onto it the right way

Don’t call bad things goodYou can grieve honestly and still trust that God is at work.
Ask a different questionAlong with “Why?”, ask “How is God shaping me here?”
Comfort before quotingWith someone hurting, listen and love first. Save the verse for later.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?Romans 8:31 · NIV

Reflect