We’ve all heard… All Things Work Together for Good. And that makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside. But what does this mean in our lives today? In this Romans 8:28 Devotional, we’ll read this popular scripture and learn the true meaning behind it.
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What is the Meaning of Romans 8:28?
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
                           Romans 8:28 NKJV
The meaning of this verse from the Book of Romans seems simple at first glance. But when we break it down, we begin to see the complexity of it.
First, let’s be clear about something… Some things simply are not good. In fact, they’re bad. Things like war, famine, the death of an unsaved person, and many other tragedies. There’s just nothing redeeming about them. Right?
Well, actually there is something redeeming in all of these things… the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s the Redeemer and because of Him, God promises those of us who believe in Jesus that all things, even bad ones, work together for our good.
And that’s what this Bible verse from Romans chapter 8 is all about.
God takes the good and the bad things in life and uses them for our benefit. We may not see it right away, but God has an uncanny ability to turn a bad situation into something good later on.
Is Romans 8:28 a promise?
Yes, this scripture is a promise of God! As we just learned, this promise is for those of us who believe in Jesus.
That may seem a little heartless at first. But God has a good plan for us, and there’s only One way for us to get there. Romans 8:28 is one of the most well-known verses in the Bible, offering comfort and assurance that God is always at work, even in our hardest moments.
So, let’s walk through it together and discover the meaning of this great God-given promise.
All Things Work Together
When we read Romans 8:28, immediately we think of the good things we want to see in our lives. And we want these good things to work together so that more good stuff will happen for us.
But the phrase “all things work together” actually means “the suffering of this present time”.
Suffering isn’t something any of us want. It’s just human nature to turn the other way and run when we see suffering coming our way. However, the Bible is clear about the suffering we will face as Christians.
The writer of Romans, the Apostle Paul, knew a great deal about suffering for the cause of Christ. And He wrote about it in this Bible Verse…
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Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
                           2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV
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The promise we receive in knowing all things work together for good is found in this scripture from 2 Timothy 3.
Instead of being a deterrent, suffering and persecution should show us how to live godly lives. Understanding that the persecution we suffer for Christ’s sake grows our faith and allows us to share in His victory. And that in our present suffering, God’s glory is revealed through us.
Yes, God can and will use good things to bring about good in our lives. But He can also use the bad stuff too. So, let’s not gloss over the hardships we face and wish them away simply because they’re difficult. Instead, let’s embrace them and know our loving God is working all things together for our good.
To Those Who Love God, To Those Who Are CalledÂ
Both of these phrases mean the same thing. And they both mean that God’s promises are only for those of us who are saved by grace.
If you’re a Christian, then you’ve been called to salvation by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. And you’ve answered that call by accepting the free gift of God’s grace through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ.
And it’s presumable that if you’re saved, then you love God. Because it’s the love of God in us that causes us to love Him in return. And His love outshines anything we’ve ever imagined!
We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19 NIV
Sometimes it’s hard to put into words the depth of our love for God. And even harder still to understand the depth of His love for us. Paul’s life is a perfect example of this transformation—from a persecutor of Christians to a devoted follower of Christ, he experienced firsthand the overwhelming power of God’s love and grace.
So, here’s what The Apostle Paul said about the true nature of God’s love…
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
If you’re saved, then you are called, chosen, and loved by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!
There is nothing that will ever change this truth. And nothing that can ever take their love away from you. This is the absolute security we have in our faith. And if you are in these two categories, called and love God, this promise from Romans 8, and the security we find in Him, is for you!
According to His Purpose
God’s purpose is the salvation of His people. Everything He does is in accordance with this ultimate purpose in our lives. Of course, His desire is for everyone to be saved. But God knows there are many who will choose a different path.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Â
Because we have chosen the narrow path, we are called according to the good purpose of God. Our purpose in life changes from following the world’s standards of keeping up with the Jones to following the Great Commission of Christ found in Matthew 28.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
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Once we’re saved, our purpose becomes God’s purpose, the salvation of people. And the words of our Savior, Jesus give us God’s call. Go and make disciples. If we are actively making disciples, our Heavenly Father is working through us. And automatically, all things work together for good and according to His purpose. Both in our lives and in the lives of those we share the gospel with.
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Discover the Blessing of Living the Life of Job in this Devotional!
Finding Joy in Trials
It’s easy to feel joyful when life is going smoothly, but what about when challenges come our way? How do we hold on to joy when we’re facing setbacks, disappointments, or hardships? This passage gives us a surprising answer…
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,​ whenever you face trials of many kinds, ​because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James 1:2-3 NIV
At first glance, this verse may seem difficult to accept. Who actually wants trials? No one enjoys struggles, and we often pray for them to pass as quickly as possible. But James tells us that trials serve a greater purpose, they’re part of the will of God for strengthening our faith.
Just as fire refines gold, challenges refine our character, teaching us patience, endurance, and trust in God.
This doesn’t mean we should pretend to be happy about hard times, instead, we should recognize their value. When we face difficulties, we can choose to be discouraged, or we can trust that God is using them for our good. Suffering works in us by deepening our faith, drawing us closer to Him, and shaping us into the people He has called us to be.
Both James 1:2-3 and Romans 8:28 remind us that God is working all things together for our good, even the hard things. When we embrace trials as part of God’s purposes and greater plan, we can face them with confidence, knowing that His purpose is always for our growth and ultimate good.
So when trials come, let’s shift our perspective. Instead of seeing them as obstacles, let’s see them as opportunities or chances to trust God more, grow stronger in faith, and experience His presence in a deeper way. That’s the kind of joy James was talking about, the joy that comes from knowing God is always working in our lives.
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Examples of All Things Work Together for Good
There are many examples of all things work together for good in the the Word of God.
The two that come to mind right away are the stories of Joseph and Job. Both are amazing men from the Old Testament who suffered great hardship yet chose to walk closely with God in spite of it.
You probably know their stories, but let’s take a minute to review them again and learn from their examples.
Joseph and His Brothers
Joseph suffered great humiliation and ridicule from his brothers. Eventually, they left him in a pit to die.
But that wasn’t the end of Joseph’s story. You see, God put him in that pit, not Joseph’s brothers. Because God intended to use Joseph’s suffering to bring good into the life of His people.
Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt. There he became an advisor to the Pharoah, and quickly rose in the ranks. This position gave him power and prestige and allowed him to sell grain to Israel during a terrible drought.
God gave us this Bible story to show us, that sometimes being in a pit isn’t so bad after all. And our present suffering allows God to work all things together for good. You can read more about Joseph and his amazing faith in the face of adversity in Genesis 37-45.
Story of Job
Job’s story is a lesson in suffering well.
He began as a rich man who loved God greatly. But Satan thought he could turn Job against God. So, God allowed Satan to test Job’s faith. It started with Job losing his wealth, then his family, and then his health.
Instead of the devil having his way, each of these hardships grew Job’s faith and strengthened his resolve to follow the Lord. Through it all, God was refining Job and turning him into the man He wanted him to be. And this is exactly how our Heavenly Father uses suffering to accomplish His purpose in our lives.
The examples of these two heroes of the faith, show us how God works all things for good in our lives.
The Hand of God in All Things
It’s easy to trust God when life is going well, but when tough times come, we often wonder if He’s still in control of all things. The truth is, as God’s people we’re never left to navigate the storms of life alone. His hand is always at work, guiding, strengthening, and upholding us, even when we can’t see it.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
Psalm 37:23-24 NKJV
This verse reminds us how God takes every step of our lives, both the good and the difficult, and uses them for His purpose. Even when we stumble, He doesn’t let us fall beyond His reach. Just like a loving father holding a child’s hand, our Heavenly Father steadies us and leads us in the direction He has planned.
Psalm 37:23-24 reminds us that God will never abandon us. Our steps are ordered by the Lord, and even when we stumble, God’s ability to uphold us never fails. He delights in leading us, using every challenge and trial to shape us according to His ultimate purpose. Even when we don’t understand the path ahead, we can find peace in knowing that His hand is steady, His plan is perfect, and His love never wavers.
This is a mirror image of Romans 8:28 which assures us that all things work together for good, including the moments when we feel weak or uncertain. When we place our trust in Him, we can rest in the security of His unfailing hand, knowing He’s guiding us toward His very best.
Trusting God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense
There are moments in life when nothing seems to go the way we planned. We face unexpected hardships, unanswered prayers, and difficult seasons that leave us wondering…Â Why is this happening?
In those moments, it can be hard to see the promise of Romans 8:28 that God is working all things together for our good.
But here’s the truth… we don’t have to understand everything to trust God. His plans are always greater than what we can see, and His wisdom is far beyond our own.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
This verse reminds us that we don’t have to figure everything out on our own. Instead, we’re called to lean on God’s wisdom and trust that He’s directing our steps, even when the road ahead looks uncertain. Faith isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about believing that God is in control, even when life doesn’t make sense.
Think about the story of Joseph we just read. He was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. From his perspective, everything was falling apart. But God was working behind the scenes, positioning him to save an entire nation. What seemed like a disaster was actually part of God’s perfect plan.
The same is true for us. Just because we don’t see how God is working doesn’t mean He isn’t. When we choose to trust Him, even in the confusion, disappointment, and pain, we open the door for His peace to fill our hearts.
So when life doesn’t make sense, hold on to the truth that God is always good, always faithful, and always working for our good. Even in the hardest moments, we can rest in the assurance that His plan is unfolding exactly as it should.
God is Greater than the Highs and Lows
There will always be highs and lows in life. But through each hill and valley, we have an opportunity to grow our faith and to see how God works all things together for our good. Even when we don’t understand what’s happening, we can trust that He is turning every moment, both joyful and difficult, into His perfect plan.
In this Romans 8:28 Devotional, we’ve seen that God’s promises are unshakable. No hardship, no setback, no unexpected challenge can change the truth that He’s in control and working everything out for our good. His love and faithfulness never waver, and His purpose for our lives remains steady even when the path seems uncertain.
Today, I pray you’ll know God is greater than the ups and downs you face. He’s with you through it all, guiding you with His hand and strengthening your faith.
May you hold onto this amazing promise, knowing that God is working all things for good in your life today!
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If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior, I encourage you to read this easy-to-follow guide “How to Be Saved”. It will answer many of your questions about what it means to be saved and how to begin a relationship with Him.
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