Romans 8:28 — 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.

Me again. Midair again. On my way home, praising The Lord again!
I’m on my way back from Charlotte, after a two-day trip that I really hadn’t been looking forward too. We had meetings set to visit three key clients with a new Senior VP from our company — my bosses new boss.
Now don’t get me wrong … So far the new guy seems pretty gracious — but all the same there was pressure to perform. And some of our interactions with these particular clients have been pretty rough over the past few months, so these calls weren’t shaping up to be pretty.
So here I am, sitting on the plane, praising God. What happened? You guessed it — the meetings went really well, the clients seem happy with our performance and direction, and we might get to sell quite a bit more software and services business.
While I was sitting in the airport I called Myra to keep her posted on my travel progress and we talked a bit about the way the meetings had gone. She gently — ever so gently — rebuked me. “But sweetheart”, she said, “shouldn’t we expect good outcomes.” At that moment you can imagine me slapping myself upside the head. Well yes. Of course. God has promised us that He will take care of us. Now that doesn’t mean that only good things will happen, and never anything bad. But I do believe that it’s reasonable to expect that most often good things will happen, and not bad. God is not some heavenly trickster setting bizarre and complex puzzles.
So it was like God whispered in my ear. “Ian, Ian, don’t you trust Me? Don’t you believe My word?” Such a quiet, gentle whisper. With a slight sense of shame I called this famous verse to mind. Chapter 8 of Paul’s letter to the Romans is a high peak in a majestic theological mountain range. Verse 28 is the base camp for the final assault on the glorious summit… And yet…
I, like so many other Christians, have done a poor job of internalizing the truth of the wonderful promise. All things work together for good … Whatever happened in my meetings yesterday, new Senior VP and cranky clients notwithstanding, was bound to work together for my good.
Now I admit that there are conditions on this blessing. R. C. Sproul describes them well. I have to be “one of them that love Him”. Sproul says of this, “It is not in the final analysis a matter of mental assent but of affection for God. Obedience, discipleship and living the Christian life are a consequence of loving God.” And I must be “called according to his purpose”. This calling is not just the calling to repentance, salvation and fellowship with God – it is God’s effectual calling. Sproul’s comments again: “What is meant by the effectual call of God is that, when he calls, he calls sovereignly and effectively by an inward call which goes beyond the ears into the soul and into the heart. What we are speaking about is regeneration. Only God can do that and he does so by the power of his Spirit through the Word.”
I know I love God, and I believe I have heard the effectual call. I should never be surprised when my day works out well!