My dear friend, I certainly agree that it can be very difficult even for Christians to find comfort in this verse during those times that try the soul unless we view things through the eyes of faith. Of course, if one is not a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, that person will likely not find much comfort during a severe trial in such promises from God’s Word. Since the verse you have cited identifies that the promise is true for “those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose,” my comments from here on will be directed toward those who truly love and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Now, I have heard people ask, “If God loves us, then why do bad things happen to good people?” Perhaps there is a tendency to think that in the face of difficult trials, we are simply the victims of random circumstances, or that God does not care about what is happening in the lives of His children. Well, I can assure you by the Word of God that He does in fact care, and our lives are certainly not at all random. God has a specific plan for each of His children. Romans 8:28, says (NJKV): “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” So, how do we “know” this, and how does this verse reconcile with those things that trouble us in this life? The answer, in a word, is faith. My dear friend, we must understand that we do live in a fallen world, one ruined by sin, and sin is the root cause of all our woes in this life including death. Now, I am not saying that every heart-wrenching trial is a punishment for a specific sin which we have committed. You’ll recall the question of the disciples of the Lord Jesus asking which had sinned, the blind man or his parents that he was born blind in John 9:1-5. In verse 3 of that portion, the Lord Jesus responded: “…Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” Still, while our trials may or may not be a result of a specific sin in our lives, it remains a fact that we do live in a world ruined by sin. All disease, natural disasters, violence and death are a result of sin, which entered the world through Adam in his fall (Genesis 3:14-19).  But the good news is this: Christ Jesus came down from heaven to deal with that very sin problem that has resulted in all these woes. Christ Jesus went to the cross at Calvary to die for sinners that we might be saved (1 Timothy 1:15; John 3:16). Heaven is the destiny of all true believers.  Think of that dear friend! In John 14:1-3, we hear the loving words of the lord Jesus as He says: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me,” (verse 1). In these verses, the Lord goes on to tell us why we need not be troubled by any circumstances that may seem to threaten us. Our Lord Jesus loves us and has gone ahead to prepare a place for us (by the cross at Calvary), and that because He died for us and rose again some 2000 years ago, He will also come back one day and take us to our heavenly abode (a permanent dwelling in heaven.  See also 2 Corinthians 5:1).  

But now, let’s look at Romans 8: 27: “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” The Holy Spirit knows the mind of God and intercedes for us according to God’s perfect will, so there is indeed purpose in our lives. Verse 28 assures us that “…all  things work together for good” for believers, and this is the promise of God. We are to have faith in the promises of God’s Word, whether or not we can discern God’s purposes. The Lord doesn’t always tell us why, but merely exhorts us that we are to live by faith (Romans 1:17). You might recall the Apostle Paul regarding his affliction which he prayed about: “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness…,” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Faith in the Word of God reminds us that God does in fact have a purpose in those things He allows into our lives.

And now, as to God’s kind intentions for us, Romans 8:29 reminds us that those whom God foreknew from eternity past do not at all have a random existence, but rather a loving plan of the brightest prospects imaginable: God has predestined His children to be conformed to the image of His Son! Even in the face of serious trials, He can use all that occurs in our lives to conform us over time to the image of Christ Jesus, until we receive our perfect and glorified bodies in heaven. This is the great hope of Christians-the return of the Lord Jesus who will come and take His own to heaven to be with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Thus, come what may in this life, and despite any suffering which we may endure, God’s plan sets us on the path to glory with Christ in the heavens! The Apostle Paul said: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” (Romans 8:18).

To summarize, my dear friend, while it is quite true that we might not be able to discern God’s purposes in every troubling matter, this does not mean that there isn’t a good purpose in that which God allows into the lives of His children. At such times, however, we must rest on faith in the Word of God. The Bible clearly tells us that God foreknew and had a plan for each of us from eternity past, He knows everything about us  as we course throughout our lives, and He will allow nothing to defeat His plan for glory for us because He guides us all along the way (see Romans 8:29; Psalms 139:1-18; Lamentations 3:31-33; Jeremiah 29:11). This truth that God guides His children throughout our lifespan does not mean that we can willfully disobey God’s Word with impunity, for if we are disobedient and openly sin, our loving God may allow us to reap the temporal consequences of our disobedience. Consider one who lives a careless lifestyle, continuing in dangerous or unhealthy practices. Such might experience accidents, and all manner of diseases leading to mental or physical disability, or even death. God cannot be blamed if one so goes astray, but surely God is there to try to guide such a one back to the fold. And again, heaven is the destiny of all true Christians, so this should be a great consolation even in the darkest and stormiest times.  (SF)  (632.1)