Trusting God's Goodness Amid Life's Challenges

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound truths found in Romans 8:28-30, focusing on how God works for the good of those who love Him, even through life's most challenging circumstances. We began by acknowledging that life is messy and not everything works out as we might wish. However, the promise in Romans 8:28 is not that all things are good, but that God can bring good out of all things for those who love Him. This is a crucial distinction because it shifts our focus from expecting a life free of problems to trusting in God's redemptive power.

We discussed the concept of "inverse paranoia," inspired by W. Clement Stone, who believed that the world was conspiring to make him a better person. While the world itself may not be conspiring for our good, God certainly is. He uses every event, good or bad, to shape us into the image of His Son, Jesus. This transformative process is not about making us comfortable or wealthy but about fulfilling God's good purpose in us.

We also delved into the often-misunderstood terms of "foreknew," "predestined," "called," "justified," and "glorified." These terms outline God's promises for our path, emphasizing that our journey with Jesus is not a straight line but a complex, winding road filled with both joy and suffering. Yet, through it all, God is at work, calling us into a relationship with Him, justifying us by His grace, and ultimately glorifying us.

In sharing my personal struggles, particularly with my parents' declining health and my own recent cancer diagnosis, I illustrated how these truths have been a source of comfort and strength. Even in the midst of pain and uncertainty, I am learning to trust that God is working for good, teaching me to be present, compassionate, and reliant on Him.

### Key Takeaways

1. **God's Redemptive Power**: Romans 8:28 teaches us that God can bring good out of all things for those who love Him. This doesn't mean all things are good, but that God has the power to redeem even the most painful and challenging circumstances in our lives. Trusting in this promise can transform our perspective on suffering. [27:08]

2. **Inverse Paranoia**: Inspired by W. Clement Stone's concept of "inverse paranoia," we can live with the conviction that God is conspiring for our good. This means believing that every event, whether good or bad, is part of God's plan to shape us into the image of His Son, Jesus. [23:50]

3. **Understanding God's Promises**: Terms like "foreknew," "predestined," "called," "justified," and "glorified" outline God's promises for our path. These promises assure us that our journey with Jesus, though filled with twists and turns, is guided by God's ultimate purpose and will lead to our glorification. [36:49]

4. **Community and Belonging**: God's promise includes being part of a family—a community of believers who support each other through life's challenges. We are not alone in our suffering; we bear one another's burdens and find strength in our shared faith. [40:20]

5. **Personal Trust in God's Plan**: In sharing my personal struggles, I emphasized the importance of trusting God's plan even when we don't understand it. This trust is not passive but active, requiring us to be present, compassionate, and reliant on God, believing that He is working for our good even in the midst of pain. [50:42]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[18:58] - Introduction and Personal Anecdote
[21:01] - Recap of Previous Sermons
[23:50] - Inverse Paranoia Concept
[25:41] - God's Promise in Romans 8:28
[27:08] - Misinterpretations of Romans 8:28
[28:46] - What is "Good" According to God?
[30:24] - God's Redemptive Power
[32:07] - Paul's Sufferings and Trust in God
[33:38] - Responding to Suffering
[35:21] - God's Purpose in Our Problems
[36:49] - Understanding God's Promises
[38:46] - Predestined to be Conformed to Jesus
[40:20] - Community and Belonging
[41:40] - Called, Justified, and Glorified
[43:12] - Justification by Grace Through Faith
[44:45] - Glorification and God's Glory in Us
[46:30] - Personal Testimony and Trust in God
[50:42] - Conclusion and Prayer

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Romans 8:28-30
2. Philippians 1:6
3. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Romans 8:28 say about how God works in the lives of those who love Him? How does this verse distinguish between all things being good and God bringing good out of all things? [27:08]
2. How does the concept of "inverse paranoia," as described in the sermon, relate to the way W. Clement Stone viewed the events in his life? [23:50]
3. What are the five terms mentioned in Romans 8:29-30, and what do they signify about God's promises for our journey with Him? [36:49]
4. How did the pastor's personal struggles illustrate the truths found in Romans 8:28-30? [50:42]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the promise in Philippians 1:6 that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" complement the message in Romans 8:28-30 about God's redemptive power? [25:41]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that suffering and challenges can be part of God's plan to shape us into the image of His Son, Jesus? [23:50]
3. How does the pastor's experience with his parents' declining health and his own cancer diagnosis challenge or reinforce your understanding of trusting God's plan in difficult times? [50:42]
4. What does it mean to be "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son," and how does this shape our understanding of God's purpose for our lives? [38:46]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you apply the promise of Romans 8:28 to trust that God is working for your good in this situation? [27:08]
2. The sermon mentioned the concept of "inverse paranoia," believing that God is conspiring for our good. How can you adopt this mindset in your daily life, especially when facing difficulties? [23:50]
3. Think about a time when you felt overwhelmed by suffering or hardship. How did you respond, and how might you respond differently now, knowing that God can bring good out of all things? [32:07]
4. The pastor shared his personal struggles and how they have taught him to trust God more deeply. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God during your own times of uncertainty and pain? [50:42]
5. Romans 8:29-30 speaks of being part of a community of believers. How can you actively support and bear the burdens of others in your church community who are going through tough times? [40:20]
6. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to see God's purpose. What steps can you take to seek God's guidance and trust in His redemptive power in that area? [33:38]
7. How can you be more present and compassionate with those around you, especially when they are suffering, as the pastor learned to do through his own experiences? [50:42]

Day 1: Trusting in God's Redemptive Power
God's Redemptive Power: Romans 8:28 teaches us that God can bring good out of all things for those who love Him. This doesn't mean all things are good, but that God has the power to redeem even the most painful and challenging circumstances in our lives. Trusting in this promise can transform our perspective on suffering. [27:08]

In life, we often face situations that seem insurmountable and filled with pain. Romans 8:28 reminds us that while not all things are inherently good, God has the power to bring good out of every situation for those who love Him. This promise is not about a life free from problems but about God's ability to redeem our circumstances. When we trust in God's redemptive power, we shift our focus from the problem itself to the potential for growth and transformation that God can bring through it.

This perspective can be life-changing. Instead of being overwhelmed by our struggles, we can find hope in the belief that God is at work, even in our darkest moments. This trust in God's redemptive power encourages us to lean on Him, knowing that He is capable of turning our trials into testimonies of His grace and love.

Isaiah 61:3 (ESV): "To grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified."

Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How can you trust God to bring good out of that situation today?


Day 2: Embracing Inverse Paranoia
Inspired by W. Clement Stone's concept of "inverse paranoia," we can live with the conviction that God is conspiring for our good. This means believing that every event, whether good or bad, is part of God's plan to shape us into the image of His Son, Jesus. [23:50]

The idea of "inverse paranoia" suggests that instead of believing the world is out to get us, we should believe that God is working for our good in every situation. This mindset shift can profoundly impact how we view our lives. When we embrace inverse paranoia, we start to see every event, whether positive or negative, as an opportunity for God to shape us into the image of His Son, Jesus.

This doesn't mean that we ignore the pain or difficulty of our circumstances. Instead, it means that we trust that God is using these experiences to mold us, teach us, and draw us closer to Him. By adopting this perspective, we can find peace and purpose even in the midst of trials, knowing that God is at work in our lives.

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent event that was challenging for you. How can you see God's hand at work in that situation, shaping you for His purpose?


Day 3: Understanding God's Promises
Terms like "foreknew," "predestined," "called," "justified," and "glorified" outline God's promises for our path. These promises assure us that our journey with Jesus, though filled with twists and turns, is guided by God's ultimate purpose and will lead to our glorification. [36:49]

The terms "foreknew," "predestined," "called," "justified," and "glorified" are often misunderstood, but they are crucial in understanding God's promises for our lives. These terms outline a divine process that assures us of God's involvement in every step of our journey. God foreknew us, meaning He had a relationship with us even before we were born. He predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus, ensuring that our lives have a purpose aligned with His will.

Being called by God means that He invites us into a relationship with Him, and being justified means that we are made right with God through His grace. Ultimately, we are glorified, which means that we will share in God's glory. This journey is not a straight path but a complex, winding road filled with both joy and suffering. Yet, through it all, God is at work, guiding us towards our ultimate glorification.

Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."

Reflection: Consider the terms "foreknew," "predestined," "called," "justified," and "glorified." How do these promises give you assurance and hope in your current life circumstances?


Day 4: The Importance of Community and Belonging
God's promise includes being part of a family—a community of believers who support each other through life's challenges. We are not alone in our suffering; we bear one another's burdens and find strength in our shared faith. [40:20]

One of the most comforting aspects of God's promise is the assurance that we are part of a larger family—a community of believers who support each other through life's challenges. This sense of belonging is vital, especially during times of suffering. We are not meant to walk this journey alone; God has given us a community to share our burdens and to find strength in our shared faith.

Being part of a community means that we have people who can pray for us, encourage us, and help us see God's hand at work in our lives. It also means that we have the opportunity to do the same for others. This mutual support is a tangible expression of God's love and a reminder that we are never alone in our struggles.

Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Reflection: Think about your current community of believers. How can you actively support someone in your community who is going through a difficult time today?


Day 5: Personal Trust in God's Plan
In sharing my personal struggles, I emphasized the importance of trusting God's plan even when we don't understand it. This trust is not passive but active, requiring us to be present, compassionate, and reliant on God, believing that He is working for our good even in the midst of pain. [50:42]

Trusting in God's plan, especially when we don't understand it, is a crucial aspect of our faith journey. This trust is not a passive resignation but an active engagement with God's will. It requires us to be present in our circumstances, to show compassion to others, and to rely on God for strength and guidance. Even in the midst of pain and uncertainty, we can believe that God is working for our good.

This kind of trust is built through a relationship with God, nurtured by prayer, reading His Word, and being part of a faith community. It involves surrendering our own plans and desires to God's greater purpose, believing that He knows what is best for us. By actively trusting in God's plan, we can find peace and hope, even when the path ahead is unclear.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you are struggling to trust God's plan. What steps can you take today to actively trust Him more in that area?

You may be seated.

Maybe it's the band-aid on the tip of my nose that I'm just very aware of, and it was one of those things that wasn't my idea, but I just had one of those appointments this week where they said, "Let's get that little lump removed and checked out." So I have a band-aid on my nose to preach to all of you and for the internet for all eternity. So there you go.

Well, as we're going through this series, one of the resources we've been using is this smart screen that's behind me. You guys need to know that Phil, our senior pastor, he kind of geeks out on technology. He's really excited. He wanted to make sure that I used this screen too, but my confession is I've never touched this screen before three days ago. Now, I'm okay with tech, but I need to let you know that in college—and this is dating myself—I still typed my papers on a typewriter. It was an electric typewriter, a state-of-the-art electric typewriter with a correction ribbon, but it was still a typewriter if you didn't know.

Yeah, that's the picture of what a typewriter looked like there, but I was an anthropology major as an undergrad because, as we all know, cultural anthropology is where the big money is. I was writing a final paper about a certain kingdom in Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries, but, of course, I was typing this final paper the night before it was due. It's due at 9 a.m. I'm here at 10 o'clock at night. I admit I was rushing a little bit. The problem was on this dumb typewriter that doesn't have any kind of spell check, I made one small typo. It was just one letter, but it was every single time in this one specific word.

So in this whole paper about a kingdom in Africa, I wrote a paper about a dingdom in Africa, and I didn't know it. I didn't know it because I didn't proof the paper before turning it in until I got it back from the professor, and he said, "This was a nice paper, but what exactly is a dingdom?" Anthropologists to this day are still researching to find out what that means, but I'm not afraid of the smart board because it can't do any worse than my typewriter did, so we're going to go for it.

So we continue in Romans 8. Two weeks ago, we looked at finding hope even in the midst of suffering, and last week, we learned how God's own spirit intercedes for us, prays for us when we don't even have the words, when we don't even know where to start with our prayers. If you missed those talks, I encourage you to go back, look them up on YouTube, listen to those online.

But today, we come to three verses close to the end of Romans 8. We're getting close to wrapping up this series. These three verses essentially sum up all of Paul's thought in Romans 8 so far. There's a lot in there, but first, let's pray.

God, thank you. Thank you for gathering us together in this place. Thank you that you still speak. You speak to us through your word. You give us your Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, and God, I pray that in the midst of all the distractions in our hearts and minds right now, you would help us to be attentive to what you want each one of us to hear from you today through your word. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Well, I grew up in Chicago. I grew up in the Chicago area, and there was a prominent Chicago businessman when I was growing up named W. Clement Stone, and he happened to be a member of the church I grew up in, First Presbyterian of Evanston, Illinois. He also was a self-made billionaire back when becoming a billionaire was kind of a big deal. Now, he died about 20 years ago at the age of 100, but I remember he would donate to our student mission trips and outreach trips. He would send students to different parts of the country or even the world to see what God was doing, just like we had a group of high school students just return from working with a partner in Brazil this summer.

Now, Stone was a very unique person. He didn't start out with an easy life. His father died when he was three years old. He began his business career at the age of six, selling newspapers on the street on the south side of Chicago to support himself and to help support his mother. At the age of 16, he journeyed to Detroit on his own to start a new job at an insurance company.

Now, over time, Stone went on to build a multi-billion dollar insurance conglomerate. He donated over $275 million to Christian organizations and mental health causes around the country, but that's not why I'm telling you about W. Clement Stone this morning. The reason I mention him is that he had an interesting story.

Stone was diagnosed with a self-diagnosed mental condition that he referred to as inverse paranoia. Now, we know what paranoia is. Fear is a normal human emotion. We all experience fear. Paranoia is an irrational, delusional fear of harm or persecution, usually without cause. And someone suffering from this illness might believe that the whole world is conspiring against him or her.

And Stone described himself as an inverse paranoid, meaning that he lived his life with the unshakable conviction that the world was conspiring to make him a better person. See, no matter what he faced in life, Stone really believed that every event was part of some plan to make him better. And he approached life that way.

Now, this is counterintuitive because, of course, not everybody and everything is conspiring to make me a better person. Your business competitors, that bully in junior high, that illness. Of course, they're not trying to help you out. Terrible things happen. There are mean people in the world who do bad things. The world is not conspiring to make me a better me, but what if God is?

What if, in spite of the worst the world can throw at you, God is using everything at his disposal to shape you and transform you for the better? What if God is conspiring to work through every event in your life, the good and the bad, to shape you and make you more like his son Jesus, filled with joy and hope and love and peace in a life that begins now but will last for all eternity?

What if God loves you so much? What if God loves you so much that he will stop at nothing to complete the good work that he began in you? Philippians 1 says that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. This is a promise. God will do this.

Which brings us to today's passage. Romans 8:28-30 starts out with these words: "And we know that in all things, God works together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." God works together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

And we're talking today about finding God's purpose through our problems, even through our pain. And about finding God's promise for our path that we are on. In other words, can God do something good even in our problems? Even in the hardest parts of life, can God do something good in the midst of that? And what promises from God do we have, even when our path doesn't make any sense in the moment?

Now, before we dig into this, I want to ask you a question. I want to ask you a question. I need to say, Romans 8:28 is often misinterpreted and misused. So there's a little bit of a caution here. We need to work through this. There are some things this verse is not saying. This is not saying all things are good. This is not saying that God causes all of our problems. This is not saying that all of life's issues magically fall together into place like the end of a Disney movie. Because life is messy. Life is hard. Not everything works out the way we might want. And this verse doesn't say that it will.

But it does say, it does say, "In all things, God works for the good of those who love him." Because God has this amazing way of bringing something good, something redemptive out of even the hard and the painful things for those who love God.

So let me look at this. Let's look at this phrase for a minute. "For those who love him" is simply a designation for God's people. Throughout the Hebrew scriptures, that term, "those who love God," it was a standard designation for the Hebrews. It was a standard designation for the people of God. And Paul is writing here to followers of Jesus in the Roman church who are going through tremendous hardship and persecution, and he's encouraging them, these people who love God, that even in the midst of their struggles, God has a greater purpose.

So these words, these are for us. But what does it mean? When it says, "In all things, God works for the good of those who love him," it really depends a lot on what is meant by good. And the words of the great theologian and philosopher, Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride, that word may not mean what we think it means.

Is good just what I want? Is good the American dream? In my human perspective, good might mean a comfortable life, a family, a car I like to drive, a good job, house, health, money in a retirement account, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. But if I interpret this verse as a promise to mean that God will work in all things to give me what I want in my version of what is good, I may well be left disappointed.

Because this good, this isn't about making us comfortable or wealthy or successful. Those things might happen. Those aren't bad things. But this is about the good God desires, a lasting good that God desires to do in us and through us. This good is about God's purpose, his good purpose for you and for me and for all of creation. This is about God's will being done because when God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven, like we pray in the Lord's prayer, that's good. Good is happening.

Paul writes later in Romans 12 that God's will is good and pleasing and perfect. This good in this passage, this is about God's power to redeem because God has the power. God has the power and the will to redeem even suffering, to take the things that are bad or hard or painful and somehow in some way in his time bring something good out of them. That is what God does.

Going back to Genesis 1, the very beginning, it says darkness covered the face of the deep. And what did God say? He said, "Let there be light." That's what God does. He brings light out of darkness. He brings order from chaos, hope from despair, joy from sorrow, even, even life out of death, the worst that there can be. God manages to somehow bring something good and redemptive out of it.

And Paul, he did not write this as a theological abstraction because he was no stranger to suffering. In the Sermon on the Mount, he wrote, a couple of weeks ago, Phil went through this list of hardships that Paul suffered through, including imprisonments and beatings and floggings and stoning and shipwreck and all kinds of danger. And in 2 Corinthians, Paul even acknowledges that there were times when he despaired of life itself. This is the great apostle Paul admitting that there were times he despaired. And if you ever have despaired, you're not alone.

But Paul discovered that through his sufferings, there was an important truth. As N.T. Wright puts it, God is working even when things are not working. God is working even when we can't see it. God is working even when sometimes it looks like we have no idea that God is there at all. He is still working.

And rather than let his troubles, his challenges, his pain, his suffering, even his despair overcome him or define him, Paul learned, probably not easily, but Paul learned to depend not on himself, but on God's power to save and to redeem and to heal.

Now, I do want to offer a word of caution here with these verses. When someone is in the midst of a time of suffering, when someone is in pain, it's probably not the time to pull out this verse like a platitude and just say, "Hey, don't worry, it's all going to work out for good." We've probably had people say something like that, meaning well enough, but it kind of dismisses the reality of what we're going through.

In the moment, it's much better, usually, to say something like, "That just hurts. That's really hard. I'm here for you." And let the spirit intercede with sighs too deep for human words. That's what Josh Fox talked about in last week's sermon, if you didn't get a chance to hear it. Because sometimes we cannot see any purpose in our problems or our pain until much later, after a lot of time and after a lot of healing and with a lot more perspective.

See, we can't avoid suffering. I wish we could. But as time goes by, we all have a choice as to how we respond to it. And I've seen people go one of two ways. One way is to become more bitter and hardened and cynical and resentful over time. And to blame God and to walk away from God and say, "God, how could you ever let this happen?" And I've felt that temptation, certainly.

The other way is to have a tinge of this inverse paranoia. To have this conviction that God is so powerful and so loving that he can take even a painful event and use it in some way over time as a part of a redemptive purpose. To be a part of something greater that maybe we don't understand in the moment. But we can have that conviction that the flames can become a refining fire instead of a consuming fire.

All things are not good. We know this. But God, he can bring something good out of all things. God who can bring something out of nothing can bring something redemptive out of anything in your life and in my life. He who brings light out of darkness, healing from brokenness, sight from blindness, life out of death. What can't he do in your life and in mine? What could he not redeem?

And the hard things might be exactly where God shows his power and love and grace the most. Because God is conspiring for our good, for my good, for yours. He's conspiring to make our hearts and our minds more and more reflect that of his son Jesus. It's a life marked by love and joy and peace and hope and faith because God works his good purpose even through our problems, even when we might not see it yet.

Which brings us to verses 29 and 30.

For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called. Those he called, he also justified. Those he justified, he also glorified.

It all makes sense, right? We'll just move on. Now, there's a lot here to work through. If verse 28 was about finding God's purpose in our lives, then it would be a lot easier to work through. Verses 29 and 30, they're about finding God's promises. God's promise for my path. God's promise for our path.

Because life with Jesus, it's not a straight line up and to the right. We want it to feel like that and look like that. But often, as followers of Jesus, our path still has its hills and its valleys and its twists and its turns and switchbacks and setbacks. And it looks something more like this ball of yarn. And we're not sure where the path is going in the moment.

We want our lives and our spiritual lives to feel like a Disney Main Street parade, but it might feel sometimes it's more like Mr. Toad's wild ride where you never know quite where the next turn is going to take you. And when that happens, it can be easy—because it's easy for me sometimes—to lose sight of God's promises in the midst of that journey. We lose sight of God's promises that when life takes a hard turn for us.

And so, Paul writes these promises. And there is so much here. And so, to say, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. Stick with me as we walk through this.

For those God foreknew, those God foreknew, those God foreknew, God says you were fearfully and wonderfully made. God knew who you would be from your mother's womb. You weren't a surprise to God. You weren't an accident to God. And guess what? Knowing everything about you, the good, the bad, all of it, still God loves you. He loved you. Still, God sent his son, Jesus, to give his life for you on the cross so that you could live in a relationship with him.

Those he foreknew, he also predestined. Okay, here's this big word. A little bit of controversy about this one over the years. But let's talk about what this means in this context. Those God foreknew, he also predestined. Well, God knew what we were predestined to. And this is not about who's in or who's out in this context. This is not about who's saved or who's not, or if you had any say-so in the matter, or if we're all just robots. That is not what this verse is saying.

Paul shows us what this verse is saying. He says we are predestined to be conformed to the image of his son. In other words, there's a destination in mind. This is talking about God's intended purpose and design for us. This is about God's promise for you. In other words, when you are in Christ, you have a destiny.

If you get on the Caltrain, let's say, here in Menlo Park, and you're heading north, let's say we're going to a Giants game, you won't end up accidentally in Reno. That train won't accidentally go past the San Francisco downtown station because that's the end of the line. That's where it goes. When you get on that train, that train's destination is known.

When we respond to God's call in faith and put our trust in Jesus, God has our end result in mind already, and it is good. And God will work everything in God's infinite power to make that good come about in us. This is not just a wish. This is not just a hope. This is a promise from God.

And he goes on. We're conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Now, this is a part, it's easy to gloss over this. Okay, amen. Brothers and sisters, that's great. This is so important because part of our destiny, it's not just a solo journey. We're not walking through life on our own. We don't go through life's pain and problems on our own either.

God promises that we are a part of a family, a beautiful family. We're raised to new life with people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation and time and place who have trusted in Jesus because God's promise for our path is a promise of belonging. A promise of belonging, of companionship, of community.

When we go through pain, we do not go through it alone. We bear one another's burdens. God's spirit intercedes for us. And the areas where you may feel the most broken or inadequate might be where God wants to show up in the most powerful way. And the areas where we might feel most broken or inadequate, that might be precisely what God will use to help us.

And that's why we're here today. We're here to help you. We're here to help others through you because you've been there. You get it. What helps an addict? Well, someone else who's already recovering to kind of sponsor them and walk with them through his journey. What helps us through grief? When someone who's been there can walk with us and they get it.

Which brings us to this last verse, verse 30. Those he predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus, he also called. Those he called, he also justified. Those he justified, he also glorified. There's a little progression going on here.

We're predestined to be made in the image of Jesus and we're called. There's a lot in that word, but let's talk about it at the most kind of everyday usage. Paul knew nothing about phones or cell phones, of course. But when you call someone, you pick up your phone, you're going to call or text. What are you doing? You're reaching out. You're reaching out to someone. You're taking the initiative. You're saying, "Let's connect."

When God calls us to life with him, he's already called. He's already called. He's already called. He's already called. He's already called. He's already taken the initiative. God isn't waiting for us to kind of accidentally find our way to him. God is already calling you by name because you are on the guest list. You're invited. You're invited to a relationship with him through Jesus.

You are invited into this new family of people from every time and place in Christ. You're invited to a new life with God because God knows you. He calls you by name and he wants you to come to the party. We're called by God.

Now, how can that be possible? What makes us qualified to be able to enter into the presence of God? And this is where Paul is summing up so much of what he's been writing in the first eight chapters. Those he calls, he also justified. There's a whole sermon here, which thankfully I am not going to preach.

But as succinctly as I can, the Protestant reformers said that we are justified by grace through faith. By God's grace, through faith in Jesus, as we trust in him, we are justified. We are justified by faith in Jesus, as we trust in him and what he has done. God made us righteous and whole in his sight without blame, without shame, without guilt, because of what Jesus has done for us in his death and resurrection.

That's justification. We don't stand on our own merit. The promise for our path now and for eternity, our standing with God, our forgiveness, our hope, our life forever, it doesn't depend on us anymore and it never did. When we trust in Jesus, when someone trusts in Jesus and his grace, they're made right, they're declared blameless before the holy God almighty, all because of what God has done. We are justified by grace, grace through faith.

And then we come to this last word, those whom he justified, he also glorified. Now we don't talk about this much. There's a lot of sermons on justification. What does this mean that if we are justified with Christ, we're glorified? I mean, I think about glory. I think about God in heaven up there radiating his glory, and it's something kind of other and far away, and I'm just a human, but somehow God says that he wants his glory to shine in us.

God wants his glory, his goodness, his joy, his power to be accessible and shared and reflected in you and me. This is kind of mind-boggling. We are invited to new life and we radiate with joy in the presence of God because we're invited to the party. God says we're qualified to come to the party. He wants us to have great joy in the party.

Now glory does not mean—N.T. Wright said this—glory does not mean going to heaven and shining like a light bulb. It means regaining the proper human vocation and dignity under God and over the world, a vocation and a dignity now made possible by the indwelling of the spirit. If God's spirit dwells in you as a believer, how can God's glory not be present in some way? Maybe we can't see it much yet, but we will.

Now we're not God. We don't become God, but God desires that his glory shine in us and through us in our actions, in our words, in our character because of his spirit in us. And even in our brokenness, even in our meandering path, God's grace, God's goodness, God's grace, God's goodness, God's grace, God's goodness, God's glory are revealed.

And that's why Paul wrote back in verse 18, "I consider that the present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that is about to be revealed in us." That's God's promise for our path.

Now this has all been pretty heady theological stuff, so I want to bring this down to a very personal level as we wrap up here and share with you how I've been living in these verses, especially this last year.

These last few weeks. Some of you know this has been a really challenging year for me on a personal level, mostly related to my parents. Over the last year in 2023, their health was declining. My mom's cognitive health was declining. And so at the end of last year, I had to move them—not by their own choice—from their home into an assisted living facility and walk with them through that process.

And then in January of this year, my dad passed away somewhat unexpectedly. And so I flew out. They were in North Carolina, led a graveside service for him and managing all of those affairs that go with it, as well as my own grief. But in the meantime, my mom's cognitive issues were just getting worse. And her dementia was progressing.

And my mom was trained as an ER nurse. I mean, she was on top of it. Into her 70s, she was still volunteering as a nurse with the Red Cross, flying to disaster areas to do triage for people. And now she was at a point where she couldn't remember what happened 10 minutes ago.

But when my dad passed away, she said, "Mark, I want to move to California to be closer to family." And that took a few months to figure out and find the right place and get on a waiting list for an appropriate kind of memory care situation for her. So just about six weeks ago, we moved her from the East Coast to the Bay Area so we could be closer to her.

But a couple of weeks ago, just two weeks ago, I was noticing some medical issues that were giving me some concern. And I said, "Mark, I want to move to California to be closer to family." And I said, "Mark, I want to move to California to be closer to family." And I said, "Mark, I want to move to family."

And so I ended up taking her to the ER at Sequoia Hospital. They ended up keeping her for two days and running a bunch of tests. And then we learned last week that she has multiple fast-growing tumors throughout. And there's nothing anybody can do. And the doctors all said, "We do not see her living past the end of this year."

And then three days ago, I went to the dermatologist, and they said, "Mark, that's a little cancer spot on your nose. And we need to remove that." And it's at the lab right now. And I said, "Mark, I want to move to California to be closer to family."

Now, supposedly it's the good kind of cancer that doesn't spread. It's pretty common. I'm not too worried about it. But I don't want anyone telling me that cancer is a good thing. I don't want anyone telling me that my mom's cancer is good or that her dementia is good because it's not. I hate cancer. I hate dementia. They're products of a broken and fallen world.

And someday God will bring an end to cancer and dementia and to all disease and all pain and suffering. But in the meantime, here we are. And the question for me is, do I trust? I can get up here and talk about all this stuff, but do I trust that God can bring something good out of something bad? Do I really?

Could I possibly believe that these present sufferings that we all go through at some point are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us? Now, for my mom, she's a follower of Jesus. Now, she's going to suffer some in the coming months. There's nothing I can do about that. But she is getting close to the end of any suffering.

She's getting close to the end of any suffering. She's getting close to the end of any suffering. She's getting close to seeing her Savior face to face. It's sad for me, but in the end, it's good for her. Her suffering is temporary. She's moving on to an eternal glory.

But for me, I don't like this season. I don't like this season at all. But how does God work in this season for good in me? I don't know yet because I'm still in the midst of it. My hunch is that God is teaching me how to trust Him more and more because I have no control over the outcome.

I like to have control over outcomes, and I don't. Maybe this is teaching me how to be present with someone in the midst of suffering when I can't make it go away and I can't fix it. Maybe this is about God teaching me to cherish time with those around me and be more of an unhurried friend when my inclination is to just rush on to the next task on my list.

Maybe it's about God giving me greater compassion and understanding when I'm with others who are grieving. I don't know yet. But I do know that God can still work for good even in our pain because God's purposes are good. God's promises are assured.

So no matter how deep your problems or your pain might be now or in the future, no matter how confusing or difficult your path might appear at any moment, trust and believe that God is conspiring to make you better, to do a good thing in you and through you.

To make you into the person God designed you to be in the very beginning. God is calling you to be a part of his family. God's calling you to share in his glory through the Holy Spirit now and forever. And because of Christ, even in our pain, even in our problems, we can find God's purpose and we can find God's promise for our path.

So for this week, what if you woke up this week each day with a little case of inverse paranoia, with a conviction that God is conspiring for your good? And maybe there's a specific area where you've been hurt or you're struggling or wounded and it's just hard, and maybe in that, God is inviting you to trust him that this is not the end of the story.

To believe that that hurt or that problem, it does not define you. It will not overtake you because God wants to take even the hard things, but all things, and do something good in you and do something good and glorious through you. Through you for others and for God's glory. That is what God is conspiring to do in you and for you and through you.

Will you pray with me?

God, thank you that even in the hard times, you remain faithful. That even when we can't see where our path is leading, you are still at that path's end and you are with us through it. And that you call us to be a part of your family in Jesus. That we walk through life together and we walk through life with the assurance of your spirit who is at work in us in all things for our good. God, give us faith to trust you more.

### Quotes for outreach

1. "What if, in spite of the worst the world can throw at you, God is using everything at his disposal to shape you and transform you for the better? What if God is conspiring to work through every event in your life, the good and the bad, to shape you and make you more like his son Jesus, filled with joy and hope and love and peace in a life that begins now, but it will last for all eternity?" [25:41] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "God has this amazing way of bringing something good, something redemptive out of even the hard and the painful things for those who love God. So let me look at this. Let's look at this phrase for a minute. For those who love him is simply a designation for God's people." [27:08] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "God who can bring something out of nothing can bring something redemptive out of anything in your life and in my life. He who brings light out of darkness, healing from brokenness, sight from blindness, life out of death. What can't he do in your life and in mine? What could he not redeem?" [35:21] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "God is conspiring for our good, for my good, for yours. He's conspiring to make our hearts and our minds more and more reflect that of his son Jesus. It's a life marked by love and joy and peace and hope and faith because God works his good purpose even through our problems, even when we might not see it yet." [35:21] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "So no matter how deep your problems or your pain might be now or in the future, no matter how confusing or difficult your path might appear at any moment, trust and believe that God is conspiring to make you better, to do a good thing in you and through you. To make you into the person God designed you to be in the very beginning." [52:32] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


### Quotes for members

1. "Paul discovered that through his sufferings, there was an important truth. As N.T. Wright puts it, God is working even when things are not working. God is working even when we can't see it. God is working even when sometimes it looks like we have no idea that God is there at all. He is still working." [32:07] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "When someone is in the midst of a time of suffering, when someone is in pain, it's probably not the time to pull out this verse like a platitude and just say, hey, don't worry, it's all going to work out for good. We've probably had people say something like, that meaning well enough, but it kind of dismisses the reality of what we're going through." [32:07] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "We can't avoid suffering. I wish we could. But as time goes by, we all have a choice as to how we respond to it. And I've seen people, I've seen people go one of two ways. One way is to become more bitter and hardened and cynical and resentful over time. And to blame God and to walk away from God and say, God, how could you ever let this happen?" [33:38] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "Maybe this is about God teaching me to cherish time with those around me and be more of an unhurried friend when my inclination is to just rush on to the next task on my list. Maybe it's about God giving me greater compassion and understanding when I'm with others who are grieving. I don't know yet." [50:42] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "God's promise for our path is a promise of belonging. A promise of belonging, of companionship, of community. When we go through pain, we do not go through it alone. We bear one another's burdens. God's spirit intercedes for us. And the areas where you may feel the most broken or inadequate might be where God wants to show up in the most powerful way." [40:20] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)