COVID-19 Novel Encouragement Sample

All For His Good

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Editorial note: Today we hear from Caleb Nyirenda, in Wuhan! Amidst all the challenges we are facing around the country, this message of hope and endurance comes to us from the center of it all.
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“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 8:28)

God governs the world and all that happens in it with purpose and design for the good of those who love him. This was the final lesson Job learned from all his suffering: “Then Job answered the LORD and said, ‘I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.’” (Job 42:1-2).

This is the uniform message of the Bible, whether we are talking about suffering that comes from disease or from calamity or from persecution: “[God] works all things after the counsel of His will,” (Ephesians 1:11). God has a good and wise purpose in all that happens. From morning until night, over all the goings and comings of our lives, we should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that” (James 4:15). Why? Because God says, “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure,” (Isaiah 46:10).

Despite all the pain and conflicts throughout the history of the world, it remains true that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

Elsewhere we see that God has a different perspective on the “why” behind all things. We may not understand it, but He does.

“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20, Joseph describing when his brothers sold him into slavery as a boy.) What he says is not merely that God turned this evil for good after it happened, but that God “meant it” (the same verb as used for Joseph’s brothers’ intentions) for good.

Much later in the New Testament, after enduring much suffering, the Apostle Paul summarizes a central focus of the Christian faith, as he encourages us all to “be rooted in love in order to be capable of knowing what is the width, the length, the height and the depth and that you would know that which passes all knowledge: the love of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

As humans, we like to know the WHY behind all things. However, God has told us that even when we don’t know or understand the why behind our current circumstances, we are still able to trust Him because His knowledge is wider, longer, higher and deeper than we can ever imagine.

Let us pray together today:  Heavenly Father, help me trust You, even when I hurt. Help me trust You, even when I’m afraid. Help me trust You, whether I’m healthy or sick, rich or poor, free or in slavery. Help me see life from Your perspective, knowing that all things, even this, will work out for Your glory. Amen

By Caleb Nyirenda, Wuhan International Fellowship