All Part of the Plan – Family Devotion – February 12, 2021

Romans 8:28-30

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

All Part of the Plan

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you read a good book or watched a good movie recently? Good stories are ones that have lots of twists, turns, and adventures. Sometimes there are big problems in those stories, but somehow the main characters get through it, and by the end of the story everything works out for a happy ending.

Imagine being a character in that book or that movie. With each new chapter or scene, you never know what is going to happen next. Sometimes the story makes no sense to you. But when the story is over, you are glad that everything worked out for good in the end.

On the other hand, imagine that you are the author of the book or the director of the movie. You know everything that’s going to happen. You know the beginning of the story, the problems of the story, and the happy ending. After all, because you wrote the story, you know how everything works together for good.

Sometimes in life there are things that do not make sense to us at all. Why is my friend being so mean to me? Why did we have to lose that big game? Why did mom lose her job? Why did my loved one have to die so soon? These problems are confusing and frustrating, and sometimes make us very sad.

But today the apostle Paul encourages us with some very special words. He reminds us that, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Even though we may not understand things that are happening in our lives, God does. God is like the author of a story. He knows the beginning, the middle, and the end of the story of our lives. He knows how everything will fit together and he knows how he will work it out for good.

So that friend being mean to you? Maybe God will bring a new and better friend into your life! Mom lost her job? Maybe God will lead her to a better job, or maybe God will teach your family to trust and rely on him more! That loved one who passed away so soon? Not only does God bring all believers to heaven, but he also reminds us when people die how special heaven is and that we want to be there, too.

You see, in each and every chapter of our lives, God is working all things for our good. We may not know how at the time, but we can trust that our mighty God is doing what he promises is for our good. After all, if God loved us enough to give us his own Son to save us, we can definitely trust that God will work in love in all things for our good. Best of all, God is working in all things to lead you to life with him in heaven, and that’s the happiest ending any story could ever have!

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to trust that you work all things, even bad things, for good in our lives. We may not know how or why, but we trust that you do. We thank you for loving us so much. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What are some bad things that happen to people sometimes in this world?
• Explain what it means that God will work something out for your good.

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why is it comforting to know that God knows every moment of your life—the past, the present, and the future?
• How can you learn to trust in God and his promises more?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Give examples of things that happen in life where people might say, “There is no way this could be for my good.”
• Next, give examples of how God might work through those things for good.

Hymn: CW 93:1,4 – Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed, Great David’s greater Son!
Hail, in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, To set the captive free,
To take away transgression, And rule in equity.

O’er ev’ry foe victorious, He on his throne shall rest,
From age to age more glorious, All blessing and all-blest.
The tide of time shall never His covenant remove;
His name shall stand forever—That name to us is Love.