All things work together (not separately) for good, to those who love God.

We may become hopelessly confused if we attempt to understand exactly how each event will work for our good. Things that happen to us work “together” with other events, to work some good purpose.

During the reign of Queen Mary of England, a man was sentenced to be burned alive for the crime of preaching the Gospel. When the man was told of his impending death he said, “Well, never mind, for all things work together for good.”  When he was asked how his death sentence could work good, he said, “I do not know how, but I know that it will.”

While the man was being taken to London for his execution, a guard treated him so unkindly that one of his legs was broken. Then in mockery the guard asked, “Well, tell us, how this is going to work together for your good?” The man said, “I do not know how, but I know that God will work it together with my other circumstances for my good.”

The injured leg was placed in a crude splint, but the time involved caused the guards to delay their trip to London by one day. The day before they reached London, Queen Mary died. Queen Elizabeth revoked the sentence and set the man free.

Broken legs, arthritis, heart ailments and all kinds of problems are not in themselves good. But God will make them work together with other events for good to those who love Him. And love requires trust. When we trust Him enough to believe Him, and to say, “God will use my broken leg to work some good,” He takes our faith and works out His promise.

A prisoner who read Prison to Praise decided to put His confidence in God’s promise. When the prisoner’s wife and children came to visit him, he cheerfully shared with them his new faith and confidence in God. He said, “I want to be free so I can help you, but I’ll stay here and believe that God is using each day for some good.”  However, his wife did not agree with her husband’s new faith. She said, “We don’t have enough to eat. The children need clothes. We need a place to stay. How is this going to work for good? Do something to get out of here, so you can help us.”

There was nothing the prisoner could do to get released from the prison. But instead of spending his days in anxiety he continued to trust in God. He trusted God so completely that every time his wife came to see him, he was a picture of perfect contentment. However, this increased her anger towards him.

After twelve visits to the prison, the prisoner’s wife became so angry that she said, “OK, explain it to me. Why am I so miserable, and why are you so happy? It doesn’t make sense!”  God had opened her heart! Patiently, the husband explained to his wife the simple plan of salvation. The doors of her “prison” were opened, and the wife stepped out, a new creature in Christ. God had caused the prison sentence to work “together” for good. Months later the man was released, and he and his wife began a ministry of helping the families of other inmates.

If you are not in prison, is there some other circumstance in your life that God could use to work some great good? Whatever that circumstance is, I’ve noticed one common denominator. The more difficult the problem the greater potential it has to be used for some great good! There need be nothing good about the circumstance. It needs only to be something that will require great faith that God can use it for our good. (Reprint from September 1989)