With God, everything works for the good

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

ONE truth of our faith should never fade from our mind: God is always in control. No matter how confused the world becomes, no matter how badly we misuse our freedom, God remains the Lord of history. He allows evil because he respects the freedom he himself has given us. We can choose good—or we can choose evil. But even when evil seems to prevail, God knows how to draw a greater good from it.

This is a truth we need to remember especially when life becomes difficult. There will always be moments of suffering, failure, injustice and loss. There will be times when nothing seems to make sense. It is precisely then that our faith is put to the test.

St. Paul offers one of the most reassuring promises in Scripture: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

That is the secret—a living faith and a steadfast love for God. This promise may seem incredible from a purely human perspective, yet it has never failed. God’s providence never ceases to work, even when we cannot immediately see it.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this mystery with remarkable clarity. It teaches that, in his almighty providence, God can bring good even from the consequences of evil, including moral evil brought about by human beings.

It points to the story of Joseph, who was betrayed and sold into slavery by his own brothers. Years later, Joseph could tell them: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Gen. 50:20) What looked like a family tragedy became the means of saving many lives.

The greatest example, however, is the Passion of Christ. The rejection and crucifixion of the Son of God remain the gravest moral evil in history. Yet from that supreme act of hatred came the greatest good imaginable—our redemption. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, humanity was offered salvation. As the Catechism reminds us, evil never becomes good. But God, in his infinite wisdom and power, can bring a greater good out of it.

This should fill us with hope without making us complacent.God is in control, but that does not mean we are spared the consequences of sin, whether our own or that of others. Life will continue to present joys and sorrows, victories and defeats. As the Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us, there is “a time to be born and a time to die… a time to weep and a time to laugh… a time to mourn and a time to dance.” Such is the rhythm of life in a fallen world.

Instead of complaining endlessly, we should learn to face these changing seasons with serenity and trust. God never abandons us. He never causes moral evil, but he permits it because he respects human freedom and because his providence is always capable of bringing about something greater.

This is why St. Paul could confidently declare: “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (Rom. 5:20) It is also the wisdom behind the familiar saying that God writes straight with crooked lines. Our mistakes, and even the malice of others, never have the final word.

None of this excuses us from doing our part. We should use every legitimate human means to solve our problems. We need common sense, sound judgment, science, technology and the best of human culture. We should work hard, make responsible decisions and seek justice with determination.

But through it all, we should never leave God out of the picture. Human effort achieves its fullest fruit only when it is united with trust in God’s providence. In the end, that is our deepest source of confidence: whatever happens, God always has the last word.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com