God At Work In All Things

Quoting Romans 8:28 to a friend in college, almost got Wayne punched in the mouth. What does it mean that God will work great good out of the painful garbage of this world? Brad and Wayne discuss our friendship with God through painful times, especially when he isn't arranging our circumstances to make life fair or to relieve our suffering. It is a painful discovery for many to realize God is not our fairy-godmother, waving his wand to make our lives easy. But he has promised to be in the most brutal moments this life can dish out to love us in it and transform us through it.

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10 Comments

  1. I think that one of the most misused scrptrues is “All theings work together for good to thsoe who love God who are the called according to His purpose”. I have finally realized it does NOT^ say, “all things work together for My good…” goodness has nothign to do with me. When Jesus was called “good master” he rsponded why do you call Me good, only one is good…” This good ( and evil) concept is simply not for us. It’s from other than the tree of Life. My humjble and maybe stupid opinion is that all things are to work together for His good!!!…even if i have no idea what that is. I must offer everything up to Him..even if it hurts.

    It is now for me God’s good…God’s glory…God will (purpose) taht is the issue. What do you want to get out of this. Somehow I think it has to do with His glory!

    i have learned that God has worked the most good, the most glorification out of some of the worst, most hurtful things that have occurred in my l;ife. He has even worked his good out of me reaping according to the weed seeds I have planted. Out of death comjes life. I’m so thankful that His ways and abilities are far above mine so as to get glory from what might to me seem pain or targedy.

  2. God is so funny. I have been dealing with this *exact* issue over the last few days and a lightbulb just went on in the first few minutes of your conversation. This podcast is a clear word from God. In short I had been in a dialogue with an atheist on another website. It was quite unintentional but he asked about a comment I had posted in relation to knowing God, because he obviously doesn’t believe that is possible. It led to a series of several long emails in which he basically said, “I have spent years looking for God and see no evidence for his existence. If he does exist, he is a God of confusion, otherwise we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.” I wracked my brain for a few days wondering how someone could come to that conclusion when I and so many others have so obviously found God. Then it hit me when I heard you speak about people’s expectations of what God ought to do or ought to be like. This guy, along with others of his mindset, are basically saying that God didn’t live up to their expectations or perform like they expected, therefore God isn’t real. Wow. Now is see it as incredibly egocentric. I feel bad for the pain they may have experienced but they ultimately dismiss God because, in their minds, he let them down. I think we all have done that at some point; some just take it to the extreme. Stumbling block indeed. As always, thanks, guys.

  3. I’m so thankful that our God dared to step out of heaven and walk for 33 years in our dirty sandals so that He could know the sufferings of this world first-hand.

    It doesn’t make it all better. It just gives me comfort to know that when I reach up and scream “God I hurt!!”, He can relate. That He’ll pick me up, hold me in His arms and let me cry. All I want to.

    He takes no pleasure in my pain, and He doesn’t expect me too, either.

    Because He knows…

    🙂 “For unto you is born this day … a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

  4. I got this from this week’s PTM e-update. Although not quite on topic with your podcast – timing is right for the season:

    1 Corinthians 13 (Christmas version)
    If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love, I’m just another decorator.

    If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I’m just another cook.

    If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

    Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

    Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.
    Author unknown

  5. Amen…wow.its all for love…i am learning that truth slowly but lovely. He is doin a awesome work of love in my heart & mind. jus a couple yrs sober & in Christ. I am loving bein a new creature in Christ Jesus, & so is my beautiful wife of 14 yrs, and our 4 yr old.Father is Love. jus finished readin…so u dont want t go t church any more…wow…yea God…to God alone be the Glory….Yea God

  6. George on 12/17/2010 gets it!!!!!!!!!! It is not about our pain and suffering, but it is about what brings glory to God. If our pain and suffering does this, then so be it. Life is not about me….it is really only about the Creator that created me. Once I learn that the base of all my joy needs to come and be about Jesus, then I will be glorifying to God. Did God really create this planet and heavens for us or for God? When I find my satisfaction in God alone, then I will not only be blessed, but I will give God the glory, which is my only purpose in life. God created us to give Him Glory and to make much of Him and little of us. What a joy and privilege to be able to make much of Him, only by His grace are we able to do this……..

  7. When that ‘atheist’ said God doesn’t exist they were either 1. provoking you because they wanted to see what you thougth/get a response to see what would come of it out of curiosity
    or
    2. they have only seen with the eyes of flesh, or are only looking to flesh for what God is…… which we ALL do at some point or another– making God out to be like a person we know, or like how we think He ought to be……..
    and God, also, honestly, may have been ‘dealing’ with your own heart on the issue– and that is fine because He never brings anyone ‘across our paths’ by accident because He is completely Sovereign and that is even Grace– to get you to the point where you in no way disapprove of him or judge him, because no matter how we judge others, etc– we will be judged.

    P. S. As we all know in our heart of hearts, God does not fit into any theology EVER, though He is in the midst of any and everything and any and every circumstance, and it is ALL a mystery 🙂 (mysterion).

    Grace & Peace,
    In Christ,
    Amanda

  8. (and we are ALL have been incredibly egocentric at one time or another!!!!!!!!!! and try to exalt our’selves’ up above others!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus Christ’s Father, our Father, won’t have any of that ~ He won’t let it go on forever 🙂 <3 !)

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