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.
We face this reality every day because we live in a fallen world subject to decay and death. Plus, we live among people who are fallen, broken, and sinful — just as we are. Satan has a part to play in the bad stuff. Our sins and their consequences also play a part. The rebellion against God and the spiritual weakness in those we love bring hurtful things into our lives. Sometimes, God disciplines us to awaken us out of lethargy or correct some sinful problem in our lives. Yet in all these things, we have an incredible promise: If we love God and are seeking to honor his purpose in our lives, our Father in heaven will work out all of those things — the difficult ones and the great ones — going on in our lives to turn out for our ultimate good.