"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words...
"We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him...
"What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him?...
"For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Those are some of my absolute favorite verses...especially the one where God promises that everything works together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes. That verse is a lifeline when suffering seems to be overwhelming or purposeless. It's so hard...even impossible many times...for us to see the "good" behind some of the horrendous things that happen to us or others but we who have Faith cling to that promise knowing that there is nothing that is unknown or out of the plan of God. It's not an easy thing to grasp at times because sometimes things seem so "wrong" in our eyes. I ask "How can sexual abuse of this child work together for his/her good?"...or "How is watching my mother struggle like a dog against her terminal illness work for her good?" My humanity asks these questions out of my ignorance of the ultimate plan of God for these people and all whom they may touch but my Faith allows me to stand on that promise and know that regardless of what I "see" with my worldly senses, God is faithful and will keep His promises. I may not see how He is keeping them...but I -know- He is...and that's enough.
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