Does God really work good in all things?

This past week I was at Victory Bible Camp with the Alaska Lutheran Church workers for our regular spring conference. Victory is snuggled back in the mountains, so cell phones do not work. The wireless e-mail signal was not strong either.

Actually, it is nice to be able to get away at times from the constant contact of modern technology. But, as the signal started to get through, I found I had a lot of messages. I had a request for a meeting to plan a wedding. I had a message about the death of one of our members. And I had a message about a new birth in our

congregation.

That is a lot to catch up on. But, it is interesting how these events run the full circle of life. The death looks to the past. The birth points to present joy and blessings. The planning of the wedding points to future life together in God’s

blessings.

In Romans, we are told that God works good at all times in life. In Romans 8:28 we are told, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

This verse is a real comfort. But some might ask, “Really? Does God really work for the good in all things?”

We might understand how God can and does work for good in a marriage. In marriage, a couple seeks to live according to God’s plan and in His blessings as husband and wife. The companionship of a spouse can bring friendship, love and even adventure to our lives. We can see God working for good in marriage.

In this specific birth, I especially see the hand of God’s love. David Bang and Ellen Lentz Bang found out last fall they were expecting. But this was not just any pregnancy, they were expecting twins!

However, there were complications from the beginning that made the doctors warn of dangers for the pregnancy. Our congregation prayed for God’s blessings and we tried to help out with some meals over the months.

On Wednesday evening, Nathan and Guiniveve Bang were born healthy and full of life. Mom and babies are doing well, Praise the Lord! We can surely see God working good in this situation of concern.

But some might ask, “How can God work good in death?” Albert Romans is a member of St. John and the uncle of Marcy Sutton. He had been in the Palmer Veteran and Pioneer Home for a number of years and came faithfully to worship on Sundays in our wheelchair van.

However, recently Albert’s memory was failing. Then he fell and broke his hip. He never recovered very well from his surgery. For those who knew Albert, he was always positive and faithful.

Despite his life becoming a real struggle, Albert knew and trusted His Lord. He knew that Jesus is his Savior who died to pay for his sins and rose again to win eternal life in heaven for him.

Life was not always easy for Albert. In fact, at the end, life was very difficult. But today, by God’s grace, Albert is no longer struggling with life’s sufferings. Albert is with his Lord in heaven where there is “no more death or mourning or crying or pain”. (Revelation 21:4) Yes, even in death, God works good for His children.

Does God really work good in all things? The worst thing conceivable would be if God himself died. Yet, Jesus, the Son of God and God Himself went to the cross and willingly died to pay for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus’ sacrifice offers forgiveness and love and life to all people through faith in Jesus. Even in the worst of situations, God works His good.

And in our lives, if we look in faith, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.