Everything is serving to the good
Songtext
In the night when the day
is ending, I am thinking of you.
Another day I have lived,
blessed by you, my Lord.
And when I had
sad moments in this day,
everything is working
for my good.
Everything is working for good
for those who love you.
Everything is working for good
for those who love you.
Sometimes I don’t understand
the plans you have for me.
Full of impatience,
I am tired of waiting for you.
But you say in your Word
that your ways are good,
and everything is working
for my good.
You are the rock,
and I am built on you.
In all circumstances
I am firm and protected by you.
Even if sometimes
I meet affliction,
everything is working
for my good.
Reflection
How can we find comfort and strength from the Lord in our faith during challenging times in our work and life?
I took today’s song text from the Bible: in Romans 8:28 it is written that everything works for good according to God’s purpose with us.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8
So, in difficult times, I can rest in my faith, knowing that there is already a positive change taking place in my life.
It may be that I will become mentally stronger to face other problems that will come later in life.
Or that I will become resistant to spiritual attacks when I am confronted by the power of darkness.
Or it may be that God uses negative circumstances to form me into the person He wants me to be.
Trust in God’s Plan
How can we trust that the Lord ensures that everything happening in our work and life is ultimately serving our good?
We have to look beyond the moment in which we may suffer, to the bigger picture of our life. God’s plan for us is first of all that we are saved and do not perish. This is why Jesus Christ came to die for us.
3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2
The first step on our side is to receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer by confessing our sins and letting Him enter our heart.
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 10
The next step is to grow into a spiritually strong person. That is why we have to face situations in which we must prove our faith.
17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
James 2
There are two reasons for this:
- Faith without works is worthless. If I say that I believe in Jesus Christ but do not show it in difficult situations, my faith means nothing.
- Satan demands to test us. When I face a difficult situation, it may be that I am being tested at that very moment.
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22
Patience and Trust
How can we cultivate patience and trust in God’s timing when we are waiting for His plans to unfold?
Paul said that we should rejoice in afflictions, because they produce patience and ultimately hope.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5
When we are spiritually newborn, it is difficult to be patient. But we learn it step by step on our Christian journey, and we learn to have hope even when circumstances give no reason for hope.
Living God’s Will
How can we align our work and life with God’s will and purpose?
First, we must understand God’s will and purpose. His will is that all people are saved, and His purpose is to show us His love.
11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways.
Ezekiel 33
To understand this, He sent the Holy Spirit, who comforts us when we are weak, teaches us when we don’t understand the Bible, and reminds us of the words of Jesus.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14
The Holy Spirit leads us if we allow Him to act in our lives.
Built on the Rock
How can we remain firm and protected in life, knowing that we are built on the rock of our faith?
We remain firm and protected when we not only hear God’s Word, but also do what it says, keeping His commandments as much as we can.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
John 14
We are not saved by keeping the commandments—only by grace through Jesus Christ. But when we are saved, our life must change, and we are called to holiness and spiritual growth.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
James 1
Those who build on God’s Word are like someone who builds on rock. When storms come, the house will stand.
Afflictions and Purpose
Psalm 119 says:
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Ephesians 6 reminds us to put on the full armor of God.
When we face difficulties, it is too late to prepare. We must train daily through prayer and Bible reading, so that when trials come, we are ready.
Even in Death
“You are the rock and I am built on you in all circumstances.” Does this include facing death?
Yes. James 5 tells us to call the elders to pray and anoint the sick. It says the sick will be saved, not necessarily healed.
Our hope extends beyond this life. Heaven is a place without sickness or tears, and Jesus promised to prepare a place for us.
Paul, awaiting death in prison, was full of joy, knowing he would receive the crown of righteousness.
Patience in Life
Sometimes we lack patience. When I take things into my own hands, I may still be in God’s permissive will, but not His perfect will. That often leads to problems. The best way is to wait patiently and let God work in His timing.
Even when we fail, nothing can separate us from His love.
