And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Romans 8:28-29

Pain presents a particular problem for us as it relates to our understanding of God’s involvement in our world. Look around and consider both the extent and depth of suffering in the world, whether due to man’s inhumanity to man or to natural disasters.

Recently, I attended a funeral service where the sons of a man I knew stood and spoke of their father’s journey that ended in death at a relatively young age. They spoke of his love for his family and for sports, but they each also took note of the change in his spiritual life over the last fifteen months since his diagnosis. They commented on his memorization of Scripture and his deepening faith in God in the midst of his illness.

The verse above reminds us that God is at work even in our pain for our ultimate good for those “who are called according to his purpose.”

Without a doubt, there is pain in your life at some level. Are you (Am I) allowing God to bring about the best for you?