“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.” – Romans 8:28 (NIV)
If you are like me there is a lot in our past we wish we could erase—mistakes, poor decisions, sins we’ve wrestled with for years. We carry shame, regret, or even hopelessness over things we've done or failed to do. In the best case it is on our minds and in the worst it can ruin our lives, but Romans 8:28 reminds us of a powerful truth: God doesn’t waste anything.
He works all things—not just the good or righteous things, but even the broken, ugly, and painful parts of our lives—for the good of those who love Him.
That means your failures, your detours, your struggles—they can all become part of your testimony. They’re not meant to define you or chain you down. They are meant to be redeemed and to make you a wiser person.
God Doesn't Approve of Sin, But He Redeems It
Let’s be clear: God doesn’t want us to sin, and He certainly doesn’t cause evil. But He does step into the mess and bring purpose from it. Look at the life of Peter. He denied Jesus—three times—but that failure became the very foundation of his boldness to preach grace and repentance.
David committed adultery and murder, but God used even that dark chapter to humble him and bring about repentance that still teaches us today. Paul persecuted Christians, yet God used that past to shape him into one of the most powerful proclaimers of the Gospel.
What we meant for harm—what we regret—God can use for healing. Not just for us, but for others watching our story unfold.
Your Mistakes Can Become a Ministry
Every one of us has something in our past we’re not proud of. But God is a master at turning messes into messages.
Have you struggled with addiction? You’re now equipped to help someone else fight that same battle.
Have you gone through a divorce? You can now walk with others through heartbreak with real understanding.
Have you doubted, fallen, failed? Then you understand grace like few others do—and you can offer it to others who are falling.
Instead of being weighed down by your past, what if you saw it as part of your calling? A calling to help others who are struggling with the same things you did.
Your Story Isn’t Over
Romans 8:28 is not a one-time fix or a quick promise that life will always look good. It’s a promise that God is actively at work, weaving everything together for a purpose beyond what we can see right now. We may not understand how God is using our struggles while we’re still walking through them, but we can trust that nothing is wasted.
God doesn't just forgive and forget—He forgives, restores, and then reuses. He turns the ashes of your past into something beautiful.
Final Thought
Don’t let your past define you. Let God refine you. The things you wish never happened may become the very things that glorify God the most in your life. Let your life story be one that points to His grace, His power, and His ability to bring good from even the hardest chapters.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”
Hold on to that. Live like you believe it. And never be ashamed of the story God is writing in your life.
