What Is Our Comfort When Life Is Hard?

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

-Romans 8:28 ESV

Sometimes life can be hard. It may be financial difficulties presenting issues. Other times it may be relationship or health challenges. Or, perhaps, it is the trial of declining health of a loved one. At other times it may be work or school problems. Furthermore, it may be unwelcome, lingering singleness, appliances breaking, cars falling apart, basement floods, or the death of a dream. Or, for you, maybe it’s something else. No one escapes it: sometimes life can be hard.

However, there is a comforting thought when life is hard: God is good, and he is in control.

Now, I know our circumstances, Satan, and even our own hearts sometimes scream violently, saying, "God is not good!" Or, "God is not in control!" Our circumstances can seem chaotic and confusing sometimes. But God is good, and he is in control.

One document from the early church, called the Didache, states, "Accept as good the things that happen to you, knowing that nothing transpires apart from God" (Michael W. Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, 3rd ed. [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007], 349). Is that idea biblical?

For Christians, yes, it is a biblical idea. Scripture shows God as powerfully in control of the universe. I say "for Christians," however, because only Christians will ultimately have things work out for good in the end.

To be clear, that doesn’t excuse injustice, sin, or remove blame from people. Also, that doesn’t mean that at times we won’t experience profound sadness due to our circumstances; indeed, at times we will. (See the Psalms for the full range of human emotions.)

Nevertheless, it is true that we can go through life with the comfort that God is there. He is in control, and he is good. And that is true regardless of our circumstances.

Here are two Scriptures that demonstrate these truths.

• [Rom 8:28 ESV] 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

• [Mat 10:29-31 ESV] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Both of these Scriptures show God as sovereign (among many other Scriptures!). He is in complete control of the universe. Not one bird will fall to the ground without God. There is not one hair on your head that is an unnumbered surprise to him. God is in control, and he is good.

I'm not aware of anyone who struggles to understand how God's hands are involved in the good things. But what about car wrecks and cancer? Yes, that must be included in "all things." There may be secondary causes (e.g., Satan, humans, etc.), but God is always the primary cause. (Whether one prefers the language of God ordaining or permitting events to happen, either way he is in control.) This doesn't mean that we will automatically understand all of the ways God is majestically orchestrating these difficult situations together for our good and his glory.

Admittedly, sometimes I am confounded as I reflect on how God can turn some of the events for good that I’ve experienced personally or that I hear about from others. At times, I find myself asking: Why did God permit this to happen?

But consider the story of Joseph. After his own brothers sold him into slavery, he experienced many unjust situations. Later, he 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” (Gen. 50:20). Mysteriously, God uses this event to raise Joseph up, putting him in a high leadership position in order to help prepare for a famine. It is the same event, but he says the brothers meant it for evil while God meant it for good. Thus, God is in control.

Moreover, God is good. There is no evil or sin in God. He is perfectly holy. Therefore, he can sovereignly ordain and manage the events in the universe for his glory while humans are simultaneously fully responsible for their actions. Likewise, angels, Satan, and demons are responsible for their actions.

But let me tell you why this is comforting news. If God was not in control of all things, then events would potentially take place without God's ability to control them. Imagine living in a universe where some things happen outside of God's control--frightening! This means that he wouldn't be able to take negative events and turn them for your good. This also means that he wouldn't be able to answer your prayers. Perhaps, without God’s control, this would also mean that some really hard situations that we go through would be meaningless. They wouldn’t happen for any purpose. Moreover, how could we know that the universe would end on a positive note? And I could go on and on. So, it is comforting that God is in control.

Additionally, it is comforting that God is good. Imagine living in a universe where a god who is not good is in control. Evil would ultimately win. Injustice would ultimately win. This would also be frightening. Can you imagine anything more haunting than living in a universe created and managed by a god who was evil? Thankfully, that is not our situation. So, it is comforting that God is good.

Paul writes "we know" with confidence that "for those who love God [i.e., Christians] all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28). Paul knows this with certainty. God ordains all things, and he has the sovereign control and ability to take all things that happen and turn them for good for his people. He has a purpose. What a comfort when life is hard!

God is good, and he is in control. Christian, whatever difficult situation you are facing today will be turned for good someday. It may seem impossible, but all things are possible with God.