“ And we know that in all things God-works for the good of those who love Him......For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.” Romans 8: 28-29. NIV
In 1983 my wife had a miscarriage at sixteen weeks. I had given up my job as a manager at Canadian Tire in Leamington and we moved to Port Perry to start farming for someone. Those first few months were a heavy learning curve and I spent much time in the barn. My wife was left in the house with five kids and she basically managed the household. So when she miscarried we were devastated. All kinds of thoughts ran through our mind: anger, frustration, sadness, and confusion. Each new day seemed to be a drag on our emotions. Out of these negative emotions we could not understand why God would allow this to happen. These verses above helped us to cope with our situation. We know that in all things, health related, financial struggles, broken relationships, miscarriages, loss etc etc., God works for the good of those who love Him. We may think that the word good here means a positive happy outcome, but in the following verse,Paul tells us what he means by good; to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. When God is working in my life to conform me to be more like Him, usually the circumstances are anything but happy. They are the times that I am feeling frustration, sadness, and confusion. It is also the time when I feel the Lord’s presence and peace with me the strongest. God never promises to take these circumstances away, but He does promise to make us more like Him—Holy. Holiness is a process, and waiting is part of that process. As much as I hate waiting especially when I am hurting or experiencing pain, it comforts me to know that God is using this time in my life to mold me more into His likeness. In 1985 God blessed us with a new healthy baby boy. A gift from God.
🙏 Father God, thank you that you do work out all things to our good. Thank you that You are conforming us into the image of Your Son. This is a life long process and we often get tired of waiting and yet we see You at work in our lives. Make us patient and help us to wait expectantly. You do work out all things for our good.
Amen