God Doesn’t Waste the Pit

Romans 8:28 (CEB)

We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 may be one of the most comforting verses in the Bible. It may also be one of the most misused.

I grew up hearing, “All things work together for good.” When something terrible happens, someone may even say, “Everything happens for a reason.” But that can make it sound as though suffering somehow produces good all by itself, or worse, that God caused the terrible thing because God had something good in mind.

But it’s Bible, right?

Notice how the Common English Bible puts it: “God works all things together for good.” The emphasis is not on the terrible thing, but on what God does with it.

We see that throughout Scripture. Joseph’s brothers threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery. God didn’t have to cause the pit to use it. The pit was still evil, and the betrayal was still wrong. But none of what happened to Joseph could keep God from working.

There’s an old saying: “God doesn’t waste pain.” I like that. It doesn’t pretend pain is good. Some things that happen to us are simply terrible, and calling them good because something good came from them doesn’t make them less terrible.

But Romans 8:28 offers us something better than an explanation for our suffering. It offers us a promise about God. Whatever has happened, God is still at work.

God can bring compassion out of grief, wisdom out of failure, courage out of fear, and new life out of places that looked completely dead.

We don’t have to call the pit good. But we can trust that God is not finished working in it.

Let’s pray.

Lord, when I face things I cannot understand, help me resist easy answers. Remind me that even in the worst places, you are still at work. Take even my pain and use it for good, and help me trust you when I cannot yet see what you are doing. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Donn King.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.