Faith in God when life is difficult. 3

God has a number of reasons for using “all things” of our experience, the outcome of which will be for the development of our faith and trust in Him. The following points show the variety of purposes He uses. 

The “all things” conform us into the likeness of Jesus

Paul gives a key reason in the verses following the “all things” we experience in Romans 8:28.  Paul tells us in verse 29 that those who are in a relationship with God as Father have been “predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” (v.29) He then goes on to say that the ultimate aim is that “those he called, he also justified” (v.30) so that the final end will be glorification.  

His primary purpose is to see His children grow and become more like His Son. God will use the trials and difficulties, the “all things” of life, to achieve that end. It is as we respond in faith to God, trusting Him with the outcome, that God is able to work things into our lives that will bring about that conformity to His Son. We will see how that works in the following ways.

The “all things” includes God’s discipline for our good

God is using the ‘all things’ as part of his discipline and correction, for He desires us to learn, grow and mature into the likeness of His Son.  Hebrews 12 tells us that the Lord disciplines those he loves and accepts as sons and daughters (v.6). It’s the evidence that we are loved by the Father. Then in verse 10 the writer tells us that “God disciplines us for our good, that we might share his holiness.” The benefit of this discipline is that it will “produce a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (v.11) So one of the purposes of the ‘all things’ is God’s work of discipline in us, His training of us, so that we will grow and mature spiritually as part of a conforming work into the likeness of His Son.

The “all things” prove our faith and trust in God

Another important reason for God’s use of “all things” is to test our faith and trust in God. James 1:2-3 tells us that we should rejoice in our trials because they prove not only the genuineness of our faith but develop spiritual maturity which will lead to us being perfect and complete. This will be finally true when we see Jesus as He is (1 John3:2). Without the testing of our faith, our trust and dependence upon God will not be given the opportunity to grow. 

The “all things” guide us into blessing

When we are faced with hard and difficult times, we may wonder where God is in all that we are going through. Naomi felt that when she returned to Bethlehem after having lost both husband and two sons in the land of Moab (Ruth 1:20-21). She returns to Bethlehem a discouraged woman, conscious that their move to Moab had only resulted in loss for her. However, God was still there in control causing her to return to Bethlehem. There He leads Ruth in such a way that she meets Boaz, and through that will bring the blessing of God’s provision and security in a husband for Ruth. This will lead ultimately to the birth of the Lord Jesus. Although Naomi suffered much initially, eventually it resulted in a good outcome as God worked His purposes in their difficult situation. Job is another example.  We may find it difficult to trust God in periods of suffering, but our faith in God will ultimately be rewarded in ways that will prove best for us in the long term. 

The “all things” will bring glory to God by our witness

As we respond in faith and trust in God in the “all things” of life, God is glorified. It becomes a witness that will attract others to God. In 1 Peter 2:12 Peter says, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” This is followed up in chapter 3:14-15, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” People are watching how we respond to our difficult and trying times. If our responses honour God and we continue to trust even when all seems to falling apart around us, people will want to know why, and this leads to Peter’s exhortation to be “always prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”(v.15)  It is a counterintuitive fact that it is the places where the church is persecuted that seem to be where the church is growing. Perhaps one reason why the church in the West is not as it should be is because we haven’t been put to the test of suffering in the way that our brothers and sisters in places like China have faced.

These five purposes encourage us to trust that God is in control and has our good at heart. Without the “all things” to deal with our faith won’t have any reason to trust God.  Dr. James Dobson has said, “The removal of adversity from our lives would eventually lead to the demise of Christianity on this earth.” Through our experiences of our Father’s goodness to us in the ‘all things’, our faith and trust in Him will grow as we become conformed to Christ Jesus.