There are over nine hundred promises in God’s Word. Reading God’s promises can be life changing. They can build our believing and help us to see what is available for us to claim. Romans 8:28 is one of those promises.
Romans 8:28:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Can all things work together for good? From God’s perspective, yes they can. All things can work together for good to those who love God because God’s Word works in every situation when we believe it. We will see how all things can work together for good to help us rise above any and all negative circumstances and be more than conquerors as we love God.
Notice how the verse begins: “And we know….” This is not “perhaps”; this is not “maybe”; this is absolute certainty. We can know for a certainty—not question, not doubt, but know. What is it that we can know?
We know that “all things work together for good.” The word “all” in this verse cannot mean all without exception. Not all circumstances we face in life are from God. Some are negative. Not all circumstances we may face in the world are working together for good, because the world is crooked and perverse (Philippians 2:15) and there is a thief, the Devil, who is always ready to steal, to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10). However, by looking at the context of this verse, we see an important key that God has provided for these circumstances, and that is praying in the spirit, or speaking in tongues.
Romans 8:26,27:
Likewise the Spirit [God] also helpeth our infirmities [infirmity, singular]: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit [gift in manifestation] itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit [gift in manifestation], because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
When we speak in tongues and act on the Word by claiming the promises of God, we can be more than conquerors and prevail in any situation, in “all things.”
“All things work together for good” in verse 28 does not mean we are to accept negative situations, but that God’s promises are always sufficient to meet the need. All things can work together for good because God’s Word will work in every situation when we believe it. We can expect to prevail and become more than conquerors when we speak in tongues and claim the promises of God. We can have a calm assurance, knowing that God is going to come through for us.
What does “work together” mean? The Greek word it is translated from means to be effective, active, or energized together in conjunction with. This word shows the impact of God’s power as He brings the Word to pass in any situation. Things are being activated and energized together in a manner which is of great benefit to us. The word “good” means that which is admirable and advantageous, and it denotes an inner harmonious perfection. God’s power energized in situations works in an admirable, advantageous, and harmonious way.
Let’s look at what else is part of this promise in Romans 8:28.
Romans 8:28:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
This promise that all things will work together for good is to those who love God. God’s love for us is unconditional and so strong that nothing can separate us from it (Romans 8:38,39). With great resolve, we can return that love.
I John 5:3:
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments….
We can return God’s love by faithfully keeping His Word. We keep His Word by living according to it. Whatever the circumstances that come our way, we can rely on God’s promises. When we do our part of putting and keeping God first by keeping His Word, He is faithful to do His part. God’s Word works in every situation when we believe it.
Once we understand that the Word of God works in every situation, we can believe it and achieve the victory. It is God’s will for us to win in life, to be more than conquerors in all situations. We can build our understanding of God’s will by studying the Word of God in order to know what is available to us. All things can work together for good because God’s Word will work in every situation when we believe it. God’s promises are always sufficient to meet the need when we believe them. The Word works, so let’s boldly walk out on it and prevail in every situation!