Staying With God & Seeing The Good

By Rachel Harkins

I am thankful for Romans 8:28!  I thank God for the promise that we as believers can claim – all things DO work together for good to them that love God. I was reminded of this recently as I read the following verse:

“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;” Philippians 1:12 

Paul’s imprisonment had resulted in a spreading of the gospel! Another favorite reminder of this promise is found in the life of Joseph:

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20

Joseph knew that God had allowed all the evil brought on by his brethren to put him in a position to preserve his brethren!

Sometimes, as with Joseph, we do not realize the good until we are on the other side of the storm. Other times, as with Paul, God allows us to see the good in the midst of the storm. Either way, the key to seeing the good in a trial is staying in the presence of God by continuing to trust Him and yes, “count it all joy” for what He has allowed in our lives. It is in the presence of God that we will find His all-sufficient grace in our time of need! We find Joseph in the Lord’s presence right after he was sold to Potiphar:

“And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”  Genesis 39:2, 3

In the next chapter, after Joseph is unjustly put in prison, we do not find him sitting in a corner having a pity party. Instead, we see him experiencing the grace of God as he is able to look past his own trials and see the hurts of others:

“And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?” Genesis 40:6, 7

By staying in the Lord’s presence, Joseph was able to avoid bitterness and therefore see the “good” that we read about in Romans 8:28.

Genesis 50:20 is Joseph’s proof of Romans 8:28. Philippians 1:12 is Paul’s proof of Romans 8:28.  For those of you familiar with Patch the Pirate, “Rejoice in the Lord” and the ministry of Majesty Music are Ron Hamilton’s proof of Romans 8:28. This past election could result in a “Romans 8:28” for America…if it drives us to our knees. Countless examples of this promise could be given; perhaps you’ve thought of your own just now.  During this season of Thanksgiving, let’s be sure to thank God for our Romans 8:28 experiences.