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And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
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As David wrote so long ago, many are the afflictions of the righteous! {Ps.34:19} But of course he continued on in that verse saying that the Lord delivers him out of them all. So his son Solomon would later say, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning.” {Ecc.7:8} Now, with that thought in mind, let us say as the apostle Paul did, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” {Php.3:14}

We will indeed be able to do that if we believe, confess and live today’s verse where we have been given an absolute assurance that whatever situation, affliction or trial we are experiencing at the moment will ultimately work for good! It is, though often not pleasant at the moment, God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. {Php.2:13}

A number of years ago I was teaching and preaching in numerous places in Cameroon, West Africa. It so happened that I crossed paths with another preacher who had come from the United States and who was teaching that God would never allow anything to hurt you, cause you pain or suffering. The brother who had arranged my travels there, an African pastor, asked if I agreed with that. It happened that he and his wife had just had a child, their first, born to them. I asked him if they were going to take that child to have her vaccinations, very necessary in that area, and he said of course. Do you think she will like that I asked him? Why would you take this baby you love so much to a doctor who you know is going to hurt her? He said he had his answer!

It was not the pagans in Philippi who sent Paul and Silas (illegally by the way) to prison there—it was the Lord God Almighty who was working His plan! There was a jailer there whose name had been written in the Book of Life who had never heard the Word! And as we know, whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? {Rom.10:13-15} So God sent Paul and Silas! That certainly worked for good, not only was the jailer saved but his whole family was too! {Acts 16:23-33}

If it worked once it would work again, so the Lord sent Paul on a sea journey (not a vacation cruise) that was destined for Rome where he would stand trial before Caesar. God had other plans! Along the way, and very often in our lives there is an ‘along the way’, He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They rose up to the heavens {Ps.107:25-26} and sank the ship that Paul and 275 other people were on-board. It was the Lord God Almighty who was working His plan. God brought His servant Paul there and Paul brought a revival there that rocked the entire island of Malta! {Acts 27-28}

At the risk of repeating myself, let me say again along with Paul: ‘I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.’ {Php.3:14} The goal is, and the prize is, the very presence of God and His Son Jesus in the heavenly places when you hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” {Mat.25:21}

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” (Psalms 23:1-6)

THERE IS VICTORY IN JESUS!