His promises are tested and true

"And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers." Romans 8:28-29 BSB

After capturing our group photo early Saturday morning, my friend Stephanie, who (along with her husband) graciously opened up her home to host the Marine Corps Marathon virtual for nearly twenty of the runners in our local running group, posted, "Here we gooooo! MCM year 2! (We’ve got marathoners and some 50k-ers). What started because of the RONA is now something I look forward to! Find a crazy group of friends and make it happen!" And happen it did! After a group prayer and a playing of the national anthem, this crazy group of friends was off traipsing down the remote farm roads near Stephanie's house for the second year in a row. “Talk about God working a bad situation into something good,” I thought to myself smiling. “The same RONA that caused us to stay apart for a time now unified us like nothing else could. God's promise to work "all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose certainly proved to be true once again.” I'll be the first to admit, though, that I don't always know how God will make good come from bad, I just know that He will. He always does. 

And you know, while the promise that all things (that means the good, the bad, and even the downright ugly) will work together for our good can certainly bring us unexplainable peace in the midst of our struggles, hardships and trials, we sometimes still grapple with the why? Why does God call us to do hard things or to go through difficult circumstances that He could change in an instant? Like having to endure months of rehab for an injury He could heal in the blink of an eye? Or having to experience the sorrow of a loved one's death or the breakup of a marriage? Because doing hard things is the very thing that makes us more like Jesus my friend. It transforms our character into His; something God predestined "those who love Him" to be. 

So no matter what situation you might find yourself in today, whether its' good, bad, or even downright ugly, smile and look up. If you are a child of God, the promise that all things will work together for your good is true. Every one of His promises have been thoroughly tested and have always been true. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise of Romans 8:28 and 8:29 that remind us that no matter what we face in life that You will work it for our good. Help us to trust that promise and to lift up our hands in praise and gratefulness when we are going through hardships knowing that You will use these problems to conform us into Your image. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!