All things work for the good?

How do we understand that all things work out?  Work out for what?  Some people naively assume that everything is going to be fine, and then it isn't.  Life can be random, brutish, nasty, short to paraphrase Hobbes.  The relentless attack of disaster, disease, death can seem meaningless and brutally unfair.  I am clinging to the truth that "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28)."

"In" all things God works.  All things are NOT God's work.  Some things happen because of stupidity, apathy, foolishness, risk-taking, or evil.  The verse says that "IN ALL things God works for the good of those who love him...."  I am clinging to this promise like a drowning man clings to a life raft in the middle of the Pacific.  I have had my share of bad things happen. I choose to desperately believe that God has a purpose in all things and that He is going to work all things for my good.  Imagine the great theologian and missionary falsely accused of crimes, appealing to the highest authority to avoid a kangaroo court rigged against him by unjust men.  Socrates?  No.  Paul.  Appealing to Caesar.  Spending the next several years of his earthly life in prison awaiting his hearing before Caesar. We don't know if Paul ever got that hearing.  We do know what he did in those years.  He wrote more than half of the New Testament.  The Bible says Paul welcomed all who came to see him and "boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."  No self pity.  His master work which is changing lives even today. He changed my life even this morning!  ©2011 Ray Woolridge