Hurricane Helene And The Comfort Of God's Sovereignty
I’ve lived my entire life in Florida, so I am no stranger to the dangers of hurricanes and the devastation they can bring. I vividly remember the impact of Hurricane Andrew when I was a boy and the massive relief efforts that followed in its wake. Those in Louisiana likely have similar memories of Hurricane Katrina. In recent days, we’ve once again witnessed the destruction caused by a hurricane—this time in the mountains of North Carolina, where entire towns have been wiped out, and the death toll remains uncertain. Events like these can shake even the most faithful among us, leading many to ask, "Why?" and wonder if the world is somehow out of control.
Several years ago, a group of seminary students was asked which doctrine brought them the most comfort. Surprisingly, their unanimous response wasn’t about God’s love, mercy, or grace. Instead, they all said it was the sovereignty of God. This might seem unexpected at first glance, but it speaks to a profound truth: there is great comfort in knowing that God is in control.
In the eighth chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul reminds us that God's providential care for us is a firm foundation upon which to rest our anxious hearts in times of trouble.
Romans 8:28: The Consolation for God's People
The message of Romans 8:28 is one of the most comforting passages in all of Scripture. The verse reads, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." At the heart of this passage is a promise—a promise that all things, whether joyful or sorrowful, will work together for the good of God's people.
This verse is not an empty platitude or a simplistic reassurance. It does not deny the presence of suffering or the reality of evil in the world. The Apostle Paul is not naive to the trials we face. Rather, he is giving us a profound theological truth: God’s sovereign hand is always at work, even in the darkest times. This truth has been misunderstood or misapplied by some who attempt to use it as a quick fix for every pain. But genuine comfort requires us to delve deeper into what Paul truly meant.
The Context of Suffering
As we look around today, we see much that is far from good. Suffering comes in many forms: illness, death, broken relationships, and societal strife. Whether it's a parent losing a child to cancer or a nation shaken by violence, the suffering is real, and it’s severe. We must never trivialize it or offer shallow solutions.
Paul does not ask us to view suffering through rose-colored glasses. Instead, he provides us with a lens through which suffering can be understood in the context of God’s ultimate purpose. Romans 8:28 doesn’t promise that everything in life will feel good or look good, but it does promise that all things will ultimately serve God's good purposes for His people.
What is the "Good"?
When Paul says that “all things work together for good,” we must be careful to define what this "good" is. The "good" is not necessarily material prosperity or even temporary relief from suffering. Rather, it is an eternal, spiritual good—something far greater than anything we might hope for in this life.
John Gill, in his commentary on Romans, identified three forms of good that can come from suffering: temporal, spiritual, and eternal. Temporal good refers to earthly benefits, which may or may not come from our hardships. Spiritual good is the sanctification that results from suffering, drawing us closer to God. But the ultimate good is eternal—it is our conformity to the image of Christ, as Paul clarifies in Romans 8:29.
Thus, the "good" in Romans 8:28 is not simply about improving our circumstances, but about making us more like Christ. This is the highest form of good, and it is the eternal goal of all things in our lives, whether pleasant or painful.
God's Sovereignty and Providence
The comfort of Romans 8:28 is grounded in the doctrine of God's sovereignty and providence. Sovereignty means that God reigns over all things, but providence refers to how God exercises that rule with wisdom, care, and purpose. The Heidelberg Catechism beautifully describes providence as the belief that “all things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.”
This understanding of providence is essential for comforting anxious souls. When we recognize that nothing in our lives happens by accident—that every joy and every sorrow is under God’s control—we can rest in the assurance that He is working for our ultimate good and His eternal glory.
Confidence in God's Work
Paul assumes that his readers already know this truth: "And we know that in all things God works for the good..." But how do we know this? We know it by faith in God’s nature, by seeing His providential hand throughout Scripture, and by experiencing His care in our own lives. From the life of Joseph to the trials of Job, Scripture is filled with stories of God working all things for good in ways that are often mysterious to us but are clear in hindsight.
God is actively working in the lives of His people, shaping and molding us through every trial. This is where our confidence lies—not in the temporary absence of trouble, but in the eternal presence of a loving, sovereign God.
The Concerned: A Specific Promise
It is important to remember that the promise of Romans 8:28 is not universal. It is not a promise to every human being, but to "those who love God and are called according to His purpose." For those outside of Christ, suffering may only lead to judgment and eternal separation from God. But for those who love God, this passage offers a profound hope.
After Bunyan’s famous character, Christian, made his way through the trials of this world—the Slough of Despond, Vanity Fair, Doubting Castle—he finally reached the Celestial City. There, he discovered that all his suffering had not been in vain. In the same way, we are pilgrims in this world, passing through on our journey to the Celestial City. The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us in eternity (Romans 8:18). For those called by God, every trial, every pain, and every heartache is working together to make us more like Christ and to prepare us for eternal joy.
Conclusion: True Comfort
Superficial platitudes or feel-good messages will not suffice in times of genuine distress. This is why we need a robust theology of God's sovereignty and providence. We need to be reminded that our lives are not governed by chance but by the loving hand of our heavenly Father.
In a world filled with uncertainty, anxiety, and suffering, we have the privilege of knowing the God who is in control. We can have confidence that all things—yes, even the most painful things—are working together for the good of those who love Him. This is the hope we have for an anxious soul, a hope grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Many years ago, a submarine sank off the coast of Massachusetts. As soon as possible, divers descended to the disabled ship, listening for signs of life. One diver heard a gentle tapping. Listening intently, he recognized the dot and dashes of Morse Code. The message was simple. “Is there hope?”
Is there hope? That is the constant cry of a broken and fallen humanity. That is the question which wells up in a person who has watched their entire town washed away by a hurricane. That is the question that is on the lips of any person who has ever had a bleak medical prognosis. That is the sentiment of every parent who has watched a child go down a path of personal destruction. That is the internal struggle that all deal with, at one time or another in life, when they begin to contemplate their own, fragile mortality.
The answer is YES! There is hope! There is hope in a God who created and sustains this world. There is hope for the anxious, hope for the hurting, and hope for the weary. That hope is found in our sovereign, omnipotent, and loving God. A God who causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him.