Why All Things Work for Good
God works all things for your good! The more we think about Him sovereignly working all things for good, the more it builds trust in Him. Have you ever really taken the time to chew on that? So many questions pop up. Is it really all things? The best and the worst things? God works this? For my good?
In this chapter, Watson answers the big question, why does He do this? He gives Biblical reasons why and then what that implies for our lives.
The ultimate reason all things work for good is because of who God is and the covenant that He has made with His people. Jeremiah 32:38 says, “They shall be my people, and I will be their God.” All things turn to the best because He has a near and dear interest in His people. He is our God! This is seen relationally and the author gives us some visuals to help us see it.
Relational Word Pictures
First, God is like a faithful physician to His patients. Watson says, “A physician does not so much study to please the taste of the patient, as to cure his disease. He labors to heal us, not humor us.” Second, ‘Our God’ implies the relation of a father who loves His child. He is a tenderhearted and eternal Father (Dt. 8:5; Ps 103:13). So, whether it is a smile or a stroke, it is for the good of the child. Third, this implies the relation of a husband who loves and works for his bride (Isa. 54:5; 49:16; 42:3). Fourth, it implies the relation of a faithful friend who will never fail you (Jms. 2:23; 4:4; Heb. 13:5). Finally, this implies the near relation of the head to the members of the body. This is a mystical union between Christ and the saints (Eph. 5:23). Watson says, “If the body is a microcosm, or little world, the head is the sun in this world, from which proceeds the light of reason.” Our God is very near His own people.
Life-changing Conclusions
Watson then gives 10 life-changing conclusions that we may derive from this great promise. I will only highlight 5 here. I am going to leave the rest for you to read when you go buy your copy of this book! May these help you meditate on this glorious promise.
From this promise we may conclude:
- We will learn to adore the providence of God. Watson states, “God is the great disposer of all events and issues, He sets everything working.” He adds, “Things in this world are not governed by second causes, by the counsel of men, by the stars and planets, but by divine providence.” Psalm 103:19 says, “His Sovereignty rules over all.”
- A true believer is always in a blessed condition! Even the bitter root of affliction bears sweet fruit (Heb. 11:26; 12:11).
- We will notice that the wicked are in a miserable condition, as all good things work to harden not heal. While the providence of God works good in the believer, it also deepens the wicked in the sin they live in. As Watson states, “The same wind that brings one ship to its haven also blows another to the rock.” There is a hook or snare in the passions and pursuits of unbelievers as material and immaterial prosperity becomes a snare to them. These blessings very easily, in the end, result in fattening the cow for slaughter (1 Tim.6:9; Dt. 32:15; Eccles. 5:13; Ps. 69:22; Amos 5:10; 1 Pet. 2:8). This should put us on our face in humble dependence on God as we know that we are no better than anyone else. But by grace go I…
- We see the wisdom of God as He reaps His glory out of man’s fury (Ps. 76:10).
- We learn that we have very little cause to be discontent in our trials and emergencies. This great promise keeps us from fainting in unbelief or fretting through impatience (Ps. 37:8; Jonah 4:9). Watson says;
“What! Discontented at that which shall do us good! All things shall work for good. When men fly out against God by discontent and impatience it is a sign they do not believe this text. Discontent is an ungrateful sin, because we have more mercies than afflictions; and it is an irrational sin, because afflictions work for good. Discontentment is a sin that puts us to more sin (Ps. 37:8). The Devil blows the coals of passion and discontent and then warms himself at the fire. Oh, let us not nourish this angry viper in our chest.”
Reason For Contentment
It is such an amazing thing that the God who cannot lie promises that all things work for good! Imagine with me that a friend has a gift for you. It is a large bag filled with money. Imagine your friend throws it to you and it bumps you in the head and leaves a mark. How troubled would you be over that bruise seeing that you now have a bag of money? So the Lord may bruise us in afflictions, but it is to bless us. It is good for us that we are afflicted, So that we may learn His statutes.
We as saints have every reason to be content in the Lord in all we go through. What a treasure we have in Him. Everything…All Things… works for good in the life of a saint. This is for those that love the Lord. May this text cause us to bear the fruit of contentment and patience as we root ourselves into it.
In the next post, we will look at the signs that we have the love of the Lord.
Q Think of one difficult thing that you have been through in your life. Prayerfully ask God to help you see pieces of evidence of His grace in that situation. After reading the above 5 conclusions, list as many ways that God may have or is working your situation out for your good. Share those with someone.
When we come to the place of accepting our trials and suffering is for our good, we learn a new facet of God’s love! Evidences of His grace in my difficult situation – learning not to revile when reviled, having nothing else to do but trust God and that He is doing s new thing, feeling His presence more, learning how worship overcomes the evil, relying on His peace that passes understanding to counter the chaos around me by maintaining peace on the inside. And much more!
The fact that you are thinking through and acting upon the truth of His love is evidence that the Lord is working things for your good. Thank you for sharing how the God of peace is guarding your heart and mind and guiding you to know His love more fully. I wonder, which of these surprises you the most?