Romans 8:28-29, KJV: “²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

I believe it was in Bible school as a child that I learned these verses, but it was in my pre-teen years when their application came home.

Does God really work all things for good? I mean, the bad things, too? the hard things? the tragic things? the painful things? Yes, yes, He does.

The word “can’t” was not allowed in my home unless it came to my plea to rollerskate. Given the instability in my legs walking, this was simply not a good idea. That fact did not stop me from asking… and asking, and bugging and… you get the idea.

We had just moved to a new town as Dad began as pastor in a new small church. It was the first Bible school week. Anyone who has been on the planning end of Bible school knows how much work goes into it and how busy it is especially in small churches.

I decided that it was about time I rollerskated. Finally, my parents let me. Donning my older brother’s rollerskates which we made fit with socks stuffed in them, I tried rollerskating down the driveway, but was going very, very slowly. My older brother suggested going down a little ramp as I would go faster. I did not want to be called a “baby” or a “girl” so followed his idea. It. did. not. end. well.

The fall spiral fractured (crushed) my “good leg.” Instead of beginning school in a new town that year, I was in a hospital bed in our living room, unable to take care of even basic necessities on my own. Recovery was months long and complicated. A home-bound teacher came to our house several times a week. Gradually, I was able to go to a wheelchair, but was still very limited.

Why, God? Why?

Gradually, God worked in my heart. My dear home-bound teacher became a dear friend and then came to know God through this experience. (We still exchange Christmas cards today, decades later.) Also, I began to see that God was real and my God, not just my parents. I realized that He would hear and answer prayer. He was there for me through all of this.

This was a turning point in my life. God took it, worked it for good, and used it to help form me into the image of Christ.

God is indeed sovereign. He even uses the bad in our lives and works it together for good to those who love Him and are called. He uses it to sculpt us into His image. This brings hope in the midst of the horrific. Remember… all things…all things.