I have found this verse extremely comforting, especially in suffering, because it is a promise. It is a promise that God can work ALL things for our good. "All things" includes the good things and the very bad things. God has the power and He will work even our greatest sufferings for our GOOD!
Right now in our church, a godly wife and mother may have cancer, and death could be a very real thing for her. In addition, one of the godly families in our church had a miscarriage.
When I learned about these sufferings, I immediately went into prayer for these families. I was hurting for them both, so I prayed for comfort, but above all I prayed that they would see that God works all things for their good, because they love Him.
I am realizing more than ever, how suffering is a great faith builder. This is probably one of the reasons why Jesus said "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Jesus told us we would experience tribulation, and we would suffer. But we can have peace in Him, and we can trust Him, because He has already overcome the world through the cross and His resurrection!
How trustworthy is our Lord! How great is our God, that He can use even the worst things in this world to help us grow closer to Him!
Peter also said that "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." 1 Peter 5:10
What a beautiful promise from God! When we suffer, it can feel like the suffering will never end. But God gave us this promise, that in comparison to eternity, we will only suffer a "little while". And whether or not God delivers us from our suffering before we die, or through death, we will no longer suffer once we are reunited with Christ! For in Revelation it says "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:4)
We can be assured that not only does God work all our sufferings for our good during this lifetime, but that He will remove our sufferings from us in Heaven. He will wipe every tear from our eyes, restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us for an eternity with Him!
I am continuing in prayer for the families in our church that are suffering right now. I will continue to pray that God will be all comforting to them and that through all this they will continue to trust in Him alone. Please join me in this prayer for all believers who are suffering right now, and that in the future when we all suffer, that God will be our source of joy, comfort, strength and hope.
To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
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