²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; ³⁰ and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Among the most frequently quoted verses by Christians going through suffering, this passage has given great comfort and encouragement to many. Yet some feel it mocks those going through insufferable, unrelenting pain. One person bitterly concluded, “If this experience I am going through is good, then God’s goodness is completely contrary to any sense of goodness I have ever understood.” In other words, what good is calling God’s goodness good if it is unlike anything good as we understand good?

Indeed, faith in God does redefine life, and in that redefinition is our hope. We live in a broken, fallen world, groaning deeply, but we do so in faith, with the hope of the future resurrection. Is there a benefit here and now? The answer is “No” if our faith is small and limited to this fallen world. However, the vitality of faith is that it leads us to transcend the limitations of our present suffering. Paul in another place says, “[T]he things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor 4:18).

In our present text, we take it by faith and are greatly encouraged that there is a good that far exceeds any earthly, human sense of goodness. God’s goodness is not merely the removal of difficulties, pain and suffering. Certainly, we all desire the elimination of those things, but God’s goodness encompasses a picture much larger than our “momentary, light afflictions” (2 Cor 4:17-18) His good plan for us began in the inner council of God’s knowledge long before we were ever created (“He foreknew”). His purpose for us unfolded (“He predestined”) according to His plan (“conformed to the image of His Son”). His intention is revealed to us in the Gospel proclamation (“He called”), and individually we are restored to Him in righteousness (“He justified”). These things have all happened. Therefore, unlike investment in the stock market, God’s past performance is our guarantee of His future performance. He will also resurrect us (“He also glorified”). It is as good as done, our present suffering notwithstanding. We can therefore be assured that all things in our lives, both good and bad, by our human standards, are God’s working in our lives for a greater good.

Lord, help me to realign my vision to see from Your perspective of eternity.