In-Depth Studies Blog

In these days of economic uncertainty and suffering it is good for the believer to have a biblical perspective on what is happening to him. What we are talking about is having a biblical attitude about all of life. What does Scripture say about how we are to view what is happening to us?  Well…. I am glad that you asked that question for Scripture is quite clear on this issue. In Romans 8:28 we are told that everything will work out for our good if we are a believer.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)

The reason that everything works out for our good is because our Father in heaven is controlling everything that happens to us and he is motivated in what he does to us by this love for us and his perfect wisdom. Now it is important to understand that when we sin we and we alone are responsible for our sin (Acts 4:27-28). We are never allowed to blame our God for our sin even though in some way he is the first cause of all that we experience in our life (1 John 1:5). Therefore in light of all this we must come to the conclusion that whatever we experience in our life is the result of the work of a loving Father. If this is true, and it is, then we must conclude that whatever we experience in our life is exactly what our Father wants us to experience. That means that everything that has happened is an essential part of God’s plan for our life. His love for us has determined that we must experience what we have experienced. Nothing else will do. 

This means that our only biblical response which glorifies our Lord is one of true thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Ephesians 5:20). To give thanks is to embrace what our Father has done and to acknowledge that WHATEVER HE DOES IS RIGHT and we love him for doing it that way. We are acknowledging his perfect wisdom in what he is doing in our life. This truth is very freeing to the believer. It means that we are never the victim and there is absolutely no room for any self-pity. To indulge in self-pity is to indulge in unbelief. To look at life from a biblical point of view transforms our attitude and enables us to have true joy in all of life (1 Thessalonians 5:16). This is my confidence, this is my certainty, that whatever my God does in my life is motivated by his love for me and his perfect wisdom. Knowing this means that the only response that glorifies him is one of truly giving thanks for all that he has done. Whatever my God does is right!

Category : Author: Geoff Volker, Theology Applied