TR Hartley

Romans 8:28 is one of those verses where misunderstanding the verse can really distort your understanding of God and Christianity.

Let’s make sure we’re rightly understanding this verse.

In this brief article, we’re going to unpack this verse. (Romans 8 is one of the most theologically rich chapters in the Bible; it is outside the scope of this article to examine the chapter on a whole.) We will first examine Romans 8:28, then offer a few questions for personal consideration.

Romans 8:28 examined

Romans 8:28 says:

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.

What an utterly profound sentence. And in its profundity, many people misunderstand this verse.

Romans 8:28 is NOT saying:

1. That everything that happens is God’s will.
2. That everything that happens is good, and should be seen as good. This verse does not say that abuse, or a parent outliving their children, or injustice is a good thing.
3. That we should be grateful for everything that happens to us. (There is no Bible verse that says those who suffer should be grateful for their suffering. That is only the product of cold-hearted religiosity.)

Rather, Romans 8:28 is saying that God will not allow anything to go beyond the scope of His redemption for His people.

In view of the third point above, it isn’t saying that we should be grateful for everything that happens to us; but rather, we should be grateful that God will redeem everything that happens to us. (I think this is a better way to understand both this verse and verses like Romans 5:3-5.)

Let’s break it down, phrase by phrase.

“And we know”

This is not some empty hope. What proceeds this phrase is based on God’s truth. It is knowledge, not mere ‘well-wishing’.

“that in all things God works for the good”

There is nothing beyond His ability to use and to redeem. He will, ultimately, redeem all sorrows and suffering.

“of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”

But, this wonderful promise is only for Christians, for “those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” There is no promise of ultimate redemption of suffering to those who haven’t come to Christ in faith and repentance. If you haven’t come to Him in faith and repentance; please, come to Him. (My prayer for you, in love, is that you would have no sense of peace until you do.)

Taken altogether, this profound verse is saying (my paraphrase):

God’s people can know and trust that there is nothing – no suffering, no injustice, no sorrow, nothing – that can outpace the lovingkindness of God. God will, ultimately and in eternity, redeem all of our broken places. Even matters of eternal significance (the unrepentance of loved ones, etc), God will ultimately redeem for His people.

What would such an ultimate redemption of brokeness look like?

Let’s look at the end of the Bible (the second to last chapter):

Revelation 21:3-4: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

At the end of history, God has promised to redeem, ultimately, every sorrow, injustice, grief, and shame that His people carry. The Bible is clear: At the end of this current reality, all of God’s people will enter into a real and true contentment, having been brought beyond all suffering.

If you are a Christian, please understand: there is real grief, sorrow, loss, and shame. Real regrets and real tragedies. This life is rife with suffering.

And yet.

And yet God has promised that, for His people, He will use and redeem every broken place within our lives.

Maybe God will use your current suffering to bless another. Maybe your current grief will help you to better love and surround other people experiencing similar griefs in the future.

Or, maybe you’ll see an aspect of His presence due to your suffering that you wouldn’t have if you hadn’t undergone that suffering.

Or, maybe you’ll never in this life see the “reason”, the good and pleasing response of God, to your suffering. But your faith will grow as you trust Him to address it.

After all, there isn’t anything that you can experience that is bigger than His goodness and love.

Not death.

Not rape.

Not abandonment.

Not cruelty or war or societal injustice.

No bad thing is bigger than the goodness of God.

Questions for Personal Consideration

First, and of greatest importance: Do you know the God of redemption? Have you begun to be in relationship with Him? If not, just ask the most genuinely Christian person you know to help you come to Him.

Additional questions:

• What are sorrows that make you question God’s goodness? Talk to God about those things.
• What are ways that you’ve been taught (wrongly) to gloss over real suffering? And, is there any forgiving you need to do of the people that taught you so?
• When was the last time you spent time meditating and thanking God for His transcendence over the world? If it’s been a while… this is a good time to fix that.

He is good. And, ultimately, God’s goodness will outpace all evil and suffering, in a way that isn’t just conceptual, but a felt, experienced reality.

May God bless you to trust Him in the time between now and that Time.