Thoughts on Hope from Romans 8

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."  This is one of those verses that, if you have grown up in the church as I have, has been quoted more times than most others.  It is memorized and thought on, yet somehow it alludes it's meaning.  It becomes rote. I know that this is true for me.  Until recently.  There has been a lot of soul searching around this house in the last few years being back in DC.  Probably more for me than others in my family, and I have come to a much more deep understanding of who I am, where I have come from, what I believe to be true about life and scripture.  I know now that the Gospel is for the believer more than the sinner.  The sinner is dead and has no understanding of the Gospel unless the Holy Spirit has opened their eyes and then they see, become a believer and need the Gospel daily.  I need the Gospel EVERY day.  To be reminded of who I am, what has been done for me and the hope that I have.  The Gospel is not a list of dos and don'ts or a self help on how to be a better person or even follower of Christ.  The GOSPEL is the Good News of Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for ME! Simple? Yes.  Absolutely necessary? YES! Romans is all about salvation and redemption.  It talks much about suffering and being made more like Christ.  Some of us have more suffering than others and some think this is a travesty.  Many believe suffering is a result of not enough faith, or not claiming your healing or victory. At this point in my life, I have seen much suffering.  One thing I have noticed and pondered is why the deepest form of suffering often happens to those who love God with all of their being.  Why? Oh we live in a fallen world. There is that.  But we as Christians strive for something so much more than this life has to offer.  We strive to be like the One who rescued us from death.  We pray for deeper understanding and we plead to be like Him.  Well...another thing I have learned is this...watch out for what you pray for! God will surely grant this prayer and sometimes it will take us walking through fire and water to be formed into His likeness.  And yes, God will even use those things in our life that are evil and ugly and hard.  Things like abuse (whether it be emotional, physical, spiritual), cancer, rejection, chronic pain and fatigue...the list can go on forever.  We live in a fallen world where sin abounds.  These things are unavoidable this side of heaven, BUT GOD....He holds the keys! He has bound up the evil one and although the affects of him are all around, God holds His children, walks with them, never leaves their side.  This is the Gospel folks.  Plain and simple.  "And we KNOW that for those who love God, ALL THINGS work together for GOOD, for those who are called according to His purpose."  We need to be encouraged through our pain and suffering that God has a purpose, a plan beyond anything we can imagine.  He WILL use your suffering and pain for HIS glory.  I rest in this promise today. I am thankful for a God who knows the end from the beginning, who holds me in the palm of His hand and when the pain threatens, He is walking right next to me holding me up. I am learning daily to let go and let God take me where He wills.  Learning to let Him use my past to shape my future and to let it be used for His glory.