The Good That God Works Together

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28, LSB).

This verse is quoted quite frequently to someone who is going through a hard time. There is nothing wrong with giving encouragement to a fellow believer while suffering, but there are times when believers can't see the good in the situation they are in. I think there are times this verse has been used and abused because we do not understand the good that God works together.

Many think the good will be getting a new job, a relationship being reconciled, or someone getting healed from a disease. Those are good things and we hope that the Lord will do that, but is that the good Romans 8:28 addresses? The answer lies in the next verse:

Because 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 brothers (Romans 8:29, LSB) 

The good that God works together is to be conformed to the image of Christ. All our hardships and trials are to mature us. We are being made into the likeness of Christ. Notice the Apostle Paul said "all things." This means in everything from the mundane to the difficult trial before you,  God works together for good to be conformed to the image of Christ. This process will continue till the day we die or the Lord returns. The Apostle Paul wrote:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6, LSB). 

The good work of being conformed to the likeness of Christ will be completed by the Father.