"We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
- Romans 8:28
 
This joyous declaration of a bold faith has brought comfort to uncounted children of God through the long centuries. We too would lay hold on this comforting assurance and make it our own. But can we? Must we not admit that there are times when this statement is beyond our reach? We are assailed by doubts and fears. We think of this cruel global war in which many thousands of God's redeemed children have suffered and are suffering, ravaged homes, broken families, poverty, hunger, disease, wounds, and . . .

"We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
- Romans 8:28
 
This joyous declaration of a bold faith has brought comfort to uncounted children of God through the long centuries. We too would lay hold on this comforting assurance and make it our own. But can we? Must we not admit that there are times when this statement is beyond our reach? We are assailed by doubts and fears. We think of this cruel global war in which many thousands of God's redeemed children have suffered and are suffering, ravaged homes, broken families, poverty, hunger, disease, wounds, and death on the battlefronts. May we say that all these things work together for the good of God's children? Yes, for we have God's own assurance.
 
We look into the narrower sphere of our own individual lives. We meet with so many disappointments and heartaches; sustain reverses and losses that impoverish us; so many of our life plans, though conceived in faith and prayer, apparently miscarry. We are perplexed and mystified. Can it be that god was in all these experiences and that all these thins work together for our good? Yes, assuredly. Like Jacob of old we may complain: "All these things are against me"; but as in his case, the end will justify God's wisdom and love. We who are in Christ who are called according to God's purpose, are always under the loving care of Him in return and confide in His wisdom, love, and power.
 
Christian friends, we often encounter disappointments that perplex and bother us, and we're tempted to cry out, "O LORD, why do You allow these things to happen?" But at times like this we should cast ourselves on  God's mercy and love. We can thank God for our disappointments because they are blessings in disguise.
 
      You can know beyond all doubting,
      In the trial you're passing through,
      That our God's great love and mercy
      Is at work for good in you.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - Clouds of testing can bring showers of blessing.