It is the thing that I know to be true.
It has changed my life.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
I sing this all the time.
I sing it unknowing.
I sing it ungrateful.
If God is for me, who can be against me?
It's a rhetorical question that is followed up by a few more rhetorical questions:
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword? Romans 8:31-35
(Yes. I realize I am sounding like a broken record in this series.)
I keep coming back to this truth, though: If God is for us, who can be against us?
Why do I keep coming back to it? Well, I need this truth.
One thing I've learned about myself in my healing process.
I approach life as a victim.
My victimization comes out of my mouth like this: "My life is harder than everybody else's."
Please tell me somebody can relate to this grotesquely flawed approach to life. It is a faulty strategy, y'all.
I know that you have hard like I have hard.
I know that your baby doesn't sleep like my baby doesn't sleep.
I know that you need time alone like I need time alone. (Anyone else have a tiny follower? {Quote with me 1 Corinthians 11:1. Challenging.})
I know that your van breaks down, and the Bigby barista gets your drink wrong, and your baby poops all over the state of Michigan {and sometimes all on the same day!!!} too.
But I have been known to come to the pile of mess that is my life believing that everybody has a personal vendetta against me. Especially God. Because really He has the power to make everything not. this. hard. Right?
Of course. God can take it all away.
He can make Ashley's van run perfectly for forever and ever.
He can help John to sleep every second of everyday for forever and ever.
He is in heaven. He does whatever pleases Him.
But.
What shall we say to these things?
That's what Romans 8:31 says. What shall we say to these things?
What things?
Slow down, Ashley. What are you talking about?
What shall we say to the things preceding Romans 8:31?
Oh, you mean Romans 8:26, for instance.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Yes, and Romans 8:28:
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Keep going, Ash. What about verse 29?
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. {Keep reading. Verse 31.} And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
This truth is just about too much to take in.
When I am weak {in my very hard version of hard} the Holy Spirit is groaning prayers on my behalf. I can't fathom the goodness.
When I am breathing, God is working all things for good. My whole life for good. {When I pray for John, I remind God of this promise. My angry rant for good, Father.}
I, as one of His chosen {just wow}, am being daily, hourly, minute-by-minute being made like Jesus.
I have been called, also justified, also glorified. {Perhaps I will write more on this later. It's just too much.}
What I've realized?
In Christ, I am a victim.
I am a victim of His goodness.
I did not deserve to be this sort of victim.
I did not seek this out. God knows I don't deserve it.
I just am.
Right now, I must go pick up a very good friend {hint: We named our son after him.} from the airport.
I will write more on this If-God-is-for-us business tomorrow.
But for now.
We are victims of goodness.
Amen?
Amen.
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