Wellbeing

Romans 8:21 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

This kind of knowing can be difficult when things are dark around us. I recall the saying a College Principal often would use, “Don’t get out of a train in a tunnel.” 

I heard someone give an illustration once about a wooden well bucket he came upon. He thought it was useless at first, because it had been sitting next to a barn in the sun, unused for a long time. He could see daylight between the wooden slats of the bucket. Certainly, this thing would never hold water again.

But an older man with him tied the bucket to the well rope and let it drop into the water below. In a couple of days they came back and turned the crank to draw the bucket back up. It was full of clear, cool well water and was not leaking a drop.

The water had re-hydrated the wooden slats until they fit together as originally designed, and the bucket was useful again.

In this chapter of Romans, Paul has been clear that the story is not over, though. Creation is waiting, longing, for God's children to be revealed in glory. That's the day when all will begin to be made right. Somehow, at some level, the creation knows this and anticipates it. Mysteriously, a key component of what will happen on that day is that God's glory will be revealed to all and revealed in those who have faith in Christ.

Father, sometimes I can’t understand how you can bring beauty from the ashes of my life. I struggle to trust you with the broken pieces. You say in your Word that without faith it is impossible to please you, and I want to please you. I want to trust you. I want you to make me more like Jesus and use my trials for my good and your glory. Help me believe the promise of Romans 8:28. In the strong name of Jesus, I ask. Amen.