All Things?

 "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." (Romans 8:28)

I wonder how much more peace I'd have if I were to embrace this in the very moment of an intense struggle. When things are going well, it's easier to say this verse as it rolls right off the tongue as a naive platitude. But what if we looked and paid attention to all of the ways this verse is actually true?

I think of how I felt left out because I was a late bloomer but now I’m thankful and realize that was a protection against potentially dangerous attention from guys.

 I think of my my parents divorce and how that led to my mom's strong conviction to put my brother and I in a Christian private school which set me toward a path towards spiritual activities and a loving community that my mom needed to help raise us.

I think of being  4 or 5 years away from completing my PhD and deciding it was too long, regretting it later, only to be blessed with an opportunity to work in ministry full-time, meet my husband, and birth my 3 children.

In all these things, God worked out the situation for the good. In His goodness, He can bring out a blessing even from the horrible things that we may experience. He's that good of a God. If we pay attention, we'll see the blessing in the trial. We'll recognize that truly all things are good, when we love God and embrace Him. 

I am grateful that no matter what, God can turn things around. There is a blessing beyond the struggle. For this, I am thankful.