Devotional thought of the Day: 

Romans 8:26-28 (NJB) ²⁶  And as well as this, the Spirit too comes to help us in our weakness, for, when we do not know how to pray properly, then the Spirit personally makes our petitions for us in groans that cannot be put into words; ²⁷  and he who can see into all hearts knows what the Spirit means because the prayers that the Spirit makes for God’s holy people are always in accordance with the mind of God. ²⁸  We are well aware that God works with those who love him, those who have been called in accordance with his purpose, and turns everything to their good.

 250         We could get rid of so much neurosis and hysteria if people were taught—together with Christian doctrine—really to live as Christians: loving God and knowing how to accept things that annoy us as a blessing from His hand!  (1)

Romans 8:28 is often used by those who minister and serve others, when we want to bring comfort to people.  Especially those in deep trauma and those who have to deal with the impossible.  Those times when we don’t know what to ask God, those times when all there seems to be, is pain.

Those times when we don’t want to admit we are over our heads.  Like when the pain of loss of a loved one stops us from being able to think or act.

But what about the other times?  What about the times (and the people) that a so frustrating its silly?  When they just bug us to no end?  What about when they drive us bonkers with the way they see things, when the situation is so…oddly broken that we can’t do anything? When the questions asked are such that we just don’t even know what to say?

Are these times really blessings?  Are these people really a great blessing from God’s hand?

According to scripture, they are!

Talk about requiring us to have faith!  To trust in God!

But that’s what Romans 8:28 says.  Everything is turns out to be for our good.

Even the frustrating, even the annoying, even that which is so broken, so wrong, that it is silly.

So what do we do in those times?  What do we do when we can’t find the answer?

Just pray, just put it in God’s hands, let the Holy Trinity bring you comfort and a sense of peace that also passes all understanding.  Let the Holy Spirit interpret, and then trust in the God who sent His son, who died for us on a cross.

That everything would be a blessing, that everything would work out right.

I know – that doesn’t make sense to our rational, logical, minds.

Neither does the cross.

But the One who promised that the cross would be a blessing – that looked forward to it for the joy set before Him.  He’s the One who also promises that all will work out for our best.  Even the frustrating, even the annoying…

Even that which causes us to scratch our head, look to the heavens… and say…

Really?

Yes!

Lord Have Mercy!

(1) Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). Furrow (Kindle Locations 1230-1232). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.