30th Week in Ordinary Time

All things work for good for those who love God.

Have you ever been tempted to question Paul’s assertion that God is always working for your good?   If we’re honest, most of us would probably say yes.   There are plenty of things in life that don’t make sense and don’t seem to be working for our benefit.   That’s especially true when we are suffering or watching a loved one struggle.

We don’t know why God allows people to suffer.   But we do know this: when Jesus became a human being like us, he experienced temptation, rejection, and loneliness, just as we do.   He knew the heaviness of grief and a troubled heart.   He suffered physical discomforts like hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and of course, he suffered both physical and mental agony in his passion and death.

It’s immensely comforting to know that Jesus understands exactly what we are going through because he has been through it before.   It shows us that God loved us enough to share our burdens and pains.   He didn’t just rescue us from his safe spot in heaven;   he came down to live among us to show that we are not alone.

But as wonderful as this truth is, it’s not the end of the story.   Just as Jesus has tasted our human suffering, he has also gone before us in his resurrection.   He has opened the gates of heaven for us so that we can be in a place where there will be no more pain or sorrow.   When we finally see God face-to-face, we will no longer question his love for us or his purposes for our lives.   All will be revealed, and it will be wonderful!

That’s why Paul could write this now-famous line in his letter to the Romans.   He suffered pain, sorrow, and rejection as he preached the gospel.   But he also saw the end goal:   life in heaven with God forever.

So even if you never see any good coming from the difficulties and sorrows in your life, believe that God really has the ultimate good in store for you.   Believe that even your most painful memories in this life will fade in the bright light of heavenly glory when you are enveloped in the awesome love of God.

“Lord, thank you for always having my good in mind.”

Psalm 13:4-6
Luke 13:22-30

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