Ingredients in God's Hands (Romans 8:28)

A familiar verse, heard fresh

DeWayne almost talked himself out of teaching Romans 8:28. It's one of the most quoted verses there is. But he sensed the Holy Spirit pressing it on him for someone on the call who hadn't really heard it before.

Four phrases

"We know" is certainty, not wishful thinking. "All things work together" means the good and the bad are woven into one story, without pretending the bad is good. "For good" means becoming more like Christ, not getting every answer you wanted. "To them that love God, called according to His purpose" tells you who the promise belongs to and what it serves.

The vanilla picture

Nobody drinks vanilla extract by the spoonful. Mixed into the right recipe and baked, though, it makes the whole thing better. That's how DeWayne pictures God using the hard parts of life.

Try this

• Read Romans 8 start to finish, including the hard parts before verse 28.
• When something painful comes up, ask what God might be forming in you through it.