When he woke up marooned on a deserted island, his first thought was, “Why didn’t I die at sea like everyone else on the ship?” Survival instincts quickly ended this pity party. He collected items that had washed ashore that may come in handy in the days to come. He took branches and made a hut to store his goods. Then, for the first time, he felt he might get through this ordeal. Later, after searching for food, he returned to find his hut burning down. With an angry fist lifted heavenward, he screamed, “Why?” God did not speak. But God answered in a ship that appeared in the distance. “How did you know where I was?” he asked his rescuers. They replied, “We saw your smoke signal.” 

I believe in divine intervention. R.C. Sproul was right: “Christianity is a faith that is based upon and rooted in miracles. Take away miracles, and you take away Christianity.” Yet God most often accomplishes his good and wise purposes through divine irony. Irony is a literary device writers use to hold apparent meaning and intended meaning in tension. Irony is when the burning hunt becomes the means of deliverance. 

God is a miracle-working God! Yet God seldom works supernaturally in human affairs. God’s Jehovistic hand works behind the scenes to orchestrate life’s circumstances for our good and his glory. F.B. Meyer wrote: “A providence is shaping our ends; a plan is developing our lives; a supreme and loving Being is making all things work together for good.”

Joseph’s brother sold him into slavery in Egypt. But God was with him and made Joseph the Prime Minister of Egypt. During a famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt for food. When they discovered Joseph’s identity, they feared he would use his exalted position to exact revenge. Genesis 50:20 says, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

• Divine intervention did not prevent evil from happening.
• Divine irony turned what was meant for evil into good. 

The invisible hand of providence is at work on your behalf. Romans 8:28 highlights four crucial details of God’s ironic providence. 

The Blessed Assurance

Romans 8:28 is clearer when you look at it in the rear-view mirror of life. That’s why Christians love this verse. It reminds us of ordeals we did not think we would survive. Yet God worked it out. But this verse is a word of assurance. It’s a map that provides foresight, not a memorial that gives hindsight. Life is understood backwards, but must be lived forward.

“And we know” assumes and affirms we can know. We can face yesterday’s regrets, today’s problems, and tomorrow’s uncertainties with an absolute and unshakable confidence in God. Fredrick Beuchner said, “A Christian isn’t necessarily any nicer than anyone else. Just better informed.” We don’t think, feel, wish, hope, or pray that all things work together for good. We have a know-so salvation. 

Job 19:25-26 says, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God.”Romans 5:3-4 says, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 says, “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” James 1:2-3 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” 1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

How do we know? This is a relevant question. Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought…” We are weak, sinful, and finite creatures who don’t know what to pray for as we ought.

• We pray for provision when we should pray for wisdom. 
• We pray for deliverance when we should pray for patience. 
• We pray for healing when we should pray for strength. 
• We pray for blessings when we should pray for contentment. 
• We pray for guidance when we should pray for submission. 

Romans 8:26 is right: “We do not know.” Yet Romans 8:28 is true: “And we know…” How do we know if we do not know? The language of the text is a bit misleading: “All things work together.” Things don’t work. Things do not have intent, volition, or strength. If things worked for or against us, life would be dominated by fluke, luck, or chance. There are no accidents in life. God is always in control of all things. That’s how we know! We may not know what the future holds. But we know that God holds the future. 

William Cowper suffered from chronic depression. On one occasion, Cowper hired a carriage to take him three miles to the river, where he intended to commit suicide. The driver knew Cowper’s intentions and didn’t want to take him. A thick fog fell on the city. The driver went in circles until Cowper fell asleep and then drove him home. When Cowper awoke at home, he was convinced that God sent the fog to save his life. As a result, Cowper wrote…

God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. 
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.

The Comprehensive Scope

Romans 8:28 is one of the “awesome alls” of the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 is the “all” of Scripture: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”Romans 3:23 is the “all” of sin: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Colossians 3:11 is the “all” of Christ: “Here there is not Greek or Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” 2 Peter 3:9 is the “all” of salvation: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as one some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”Philippians 4:19 is the “all” of provision: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Matthew 19:26 is the “all” of omnipotence: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Romans 8:28 is the “all” of providence: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

How far does God’s ironic providence reach? Romans 8:28 answers with two words: “all things.” Not somethings, big things, or most things. Sovereign providence is infinitely comprehensive. It has no limits. There are no conditions, restrictions, or qualifications. It is inclusive in the fullest possible sense. Romans 8:28 does not teach that all things are good. “It’s all good” is cool slang but bad theology.

• All is not inherently good. 
• All is not immediately good. 
• All is not individually good. 

The world is sin-cursed, self-centered, and Satan-influenced. It’s not all good! Bad, sinful, evil, wicked, and demonic happen. But God’s overruling providence can restore, redeem, or recycle all things. Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together.” “Work together” translates a verb from which we get “synergism.” God’s sovereign chemistry can make contrary elements cooperate with his redemptive plan for your life. 

Suffering can work for good. Psalm 119:71 says, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.”

Satan can work for good. Satan is real, powerful, and defeated. Martin Luther said, “The Devil is God’s Devil.”

Sin can work for good. Augustine said, “All things work together for the good of those who love God, even our sins.”

In A Turtle on a Fencepost, Allan Emery wrote of accompanying Ken Hansen to visit a hospitalized employee. His operation was eight hours. Recovery was long and uncertain. “Alex,” said Ken, “You know I have had a number of serious operations. I know the pain of trying to talk. I think I know the questions you’re asking. There are two verses I want to give you – Genesis 42:36 and Romans 8:28. We have the option of these two attitudes. We need the perspective of the latter.” Hansen read the passages, prayed, and left. In Genesis 42:36, Jacob says, “All this has come against me.” In Romans 8:28, Paul says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good.”

The Ultimate Good

Pastors are caregivers of souls and caretakers of words. 

• Misplaced words need to be retrieved.  
• Neglected words need to be nurtured. 
• Attacked words need to be defended. 

I’m talking about big words like God, truth, sin, grace, and prayer. Romans 8:28 records a key term that needs great care: “good.” If you manipulate this word for your selfish agenda, you will be sorely disappointed. Romans 8:28does not guarantee that if you lose your job, God will give you a better one. God may use your unemployment to teach you to trust him, not money. God’s ultimate good for your life transcends you experiencing better circumstances.

 What is the good this verse promises? 

• It is not feeling good. 
• It is not favor with people. 
• It is not financial success. 
• It is not freedom from pain, sorrow, or trouble. 
• It is not fulfilling your dreams and desires. 

God does not determine what is good based on what will make you happy, bring you comfort, or fix your problems. Ephesians 1:11 says that God “who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” What’s good? The“good” of Romans 8:28 is explained in Romans 8:29: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” This is God’s sole, simple, specific plan for your life. Melvin Wade calls trouble “an unwanted friend.” It may hurt, but if it makes you more than Jesus, it’s good for you. It is the will of God to have the Spirit of God use the word of God to make the children of God look like the Son of God. 

While enjoying a day at the beach with her husband and four-year-old daughter, Louisa Stead heard cries for help coming from the water. When they spotted a boy drowning, her husband rushed to rescue him. The terrified child pulled his rescuer under the water with him. Both drowned as Louisa and her daughter watched helplessly. Although Louisa could not understand why God would take her husband and her young child’s father, she continued her missionary work and later married again. Looking back on how God had blessed her despite the tragedy, hardship, and pain, she wrote: 

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus 
Just to take Him at his Word 
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to Know, "Thus saith the Lord!" 

The Chosen Beneficiaries

Romans 8:28 is not a blanket promise. You can’t randomly assure anyone or everyone, “Don’t worry. It will all work out.” If you do not turn from your sin and trust in Christ, Romans 8:28 will not work for you. The reverse or inverse operates in your life: “All things work against those who do not love God and are not called according to his purpose.” Health, education, prosperity, relationships, and accomplishments work against you. The hardhearted sinner may say, “I don’t think or feel that way.” Even that is working against you! 

The R.M.S. Titanic started its maiden voyage across the Atlantic on April 12, 1912. It stretched three football fields, reached eleven stories, and weighed 46,000 tons. It was considered an unsinkable ship. On April 14, the Titanic struck a skyscraper-sized iceberg that ripped a 15-foot gash in the proud vessel’s right side. Six of its sixteen watertight compartments quickly flooded. Within hours, the “unsinkable ship” was at the bottom of the ocean. Of 1,312 passengers and 914 crew, only 753 people survived. On that day, only two words mattered: “Saved” and “Lost.” 

One day, it will only matter if you are saved or lost. Romans 8:28 describes saved people in two ways. Actively, Christians love God. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “As it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” Passively, Christians “are called according to his purpose.”Bible-believing Christians affirm the truth of divine sovereignty. Yet there is disagreement and debate about the scope of divine sovereignty. A.W. Pink wrote, “Divine sovereignty simply means that God is God.” If God is not in sovereign over all, God is not sovereign at all!

• God is sovereign over creation. 
• God is sovereign over nature. 
• God is sovereign over human authorities. 
• God is sovereign over victory and defeat. 
• God is sovereign over Satan. 
• God is sovereign over circumstances. 
• God is sovereign over life and death. 
• God is sovereign over the destiny of the soul. 

Those who love God are those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:29-30 explains, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”