February 17

And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. — Rom 8:28 BSB

When we look at all the different circumstances of our lives and then believe that, as lovers of God, everything is working together for our spiritual good, we gain a profound view of the wisdom, grace, and power of our wonder-working God. But this good is not measured by what we think is good, but by what God Himself declares to be good in His Word and what we’ve experienced to be good in our souls.

Have your trials humbled you and made you more meek and lowly? Then they’ve done you good. Have they stirred up a spirit of prayer within you, causing you to sigh, cry, and groan for the Lord to appear and bless your soul? They’ve done you good. Have they opened up parts of God’s Word full of mercy and comfort? Stripped away the things that hindered your spiritual life? Made you more sincere, more earnest, and more heavenly-minded? They’ve done you good. Have they led you to see that only the Lord Jesus can bless and comfort your soul? If so, your trials have been used by God to do you good.