I have a confession to make. I had a rough week last week. On Tuesday, I had another migraine (they’ve been increasing lately) and then on Wednesday and Thursday, a cold weather snap left me in enough pain from my Lupus/Fibromyalgia to keep me pretty much bedridden.

Not much homeschooling was completed.

I can’t really tell you what Ben ate for those 3 days . . . it was whatever he found in the fridge. He even fed me. Mostly fruit, but it didn’t matter. I didn’t feel much like eating.

I didn’t open my Bible for 3 days.

By Thursday morning, I was feeling pretty weary.

On Thursday night, in complete and utter desperation, I did pick up my Bible, and it fell open to Romans 8.

So, not really having a plan anyway, I began to read. And two words in this verse jumped out at me as though I had never seen them before . . .

ALL THINGS.

I can’t tell you how many times I have quoted that verse to someone else. If you know me in real life, I’ve probably quoted it to you. I might even go so far as to say it’s the verse I quote more than any other. But, I’ll be honest and tell you right now, most of the time, it was probably spoken a bit half-heartedly.

“Your car broke down and didn’t make it to the party? Well, you know all things work together for good. Maybe you would have been in a wreck had you gone.”

“I’m so sorry your husband lost his job. God tells us that all things work together for good. He’s probably going to get a better job!”

It’s pretty easy to believe that all things work together for good in incidences such as these. But what about when. . .

. . . your baby is born still?

. . . your 3-year-old is diagnosed with cancer?

. . . your Mom dies suddenly?

. . . your husband is unemployed for over a year?

. . . you’re diagnosed with a life-altering auto-immune disease that causes chronic pain?

. . . your 16-year-old son’s girlfriend becomes pregnant?

. . . you’re the subject of gossip?

. . . your well-discipled, much-loved, homeschooled 19-year-old daughter tells you she is an atheist?

. . . you find out you can never conceive?

. . . your much longed-for child is diagnosed with ADHD after years of behavior you never imagined coming from that sweet little newborn?

. . . your husband has an affair?

. . . you have an affair?

. . . your only car is totaled by an uninsured driver?

. . . your house is in foreclosure?

Do you believe that all things work together for good then?

ALL THINGS?

For many of you, some of these dire situations I just mentioned are going to hit home. A few of them do so for me. And as I read and pondered this one verse, after feeling very sorry for myself for several days, I had to ask myself the same question.

Do I believe that ALL THINGS work together for good?

Do I really believe that this disease is representative of ALL THINGS?

I’ll be honest and say that I’m not sure I’m there. It’s God’s Word, and I believe it to be TRUTH. But the question that haunts me is this:

For what purpose am I called when I can barely get out of bed? Because there has to be one, right?

Do I honestly believe that ALL THINGS can and will be redeemed?

And I wonder . . . am I living a life that exemplifies that I believe ALL THINGS work together for good?

And to take it a step further, am I looking for opportunities for ALL THINGS about my life — good and bad, easy and difficult, happy and sad, encouraging and angering, fulfilling and frustrating — to glorify Him?

Because if I truly believe that Romans 8:28 is complete truth, I think I would be. Or should be. Or must.

And I am reminded of a man desperate for the healing of his child. And I cry out with him . . .

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24

***

If you found this article helpful, you might also enjoy Love Hopes All Things . . . even when it’s hard.

Make Your Other Emails Jealous

Truth from Romans 8:28 — ALL THINGS

***