“We know that
all things work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28).

God does not
take His people out of the world, does not take them away from the evil, does
not even keep the evil away from them. But He makes all things, both good and
evil, work together for good to those who love Him. He brings good to His
people out of the evil. The trouble is that while God’s people may see the evil
very plainly, they have not the knowledge of God to realize His power over the
evil to make it work for their good.

How often it is
true of us that we look at the evils, at circumstances, at things that are
taking place around us, and base our hopes and fears on them instead of upon
our God, the eternal and unchangeable One. Our worst fears are very often
imaginary, and the evils we anticipate may never come. But God is the real One;
all here is vanity and of the fallen creation. We need to remember that all
things are in His hands; He is good; He does only that which is good; He makes
all the things that take place about us work together for our good if we love
Him.

“All things.”
How much ground that covers:all the bad things, all the evil things, all the
things that seem so hard to bear, all the sorrowful things, all the
afflictions, all the trials, all the disappointments, all the attacks of Satan
and wicked men, all the failures and mistakes of others. “All things
work together for good to those who love God.”

Does not God
take wonderful care of those who love Him? He cannot do too much for them, but
then He does it in His perfect way and time, and that is where the trial comes.
It is our part to believe His words, to trust Him with all our hearts, to cling
to Him whatever comes. And it is His free grace that enables us to do this. He
will not keep any good back from His own faithful people (Psa. 84:11). So we
can rejoice in Him and praise Him with full hearts.