This statement is offensive and is rightfully hated. Say that to the young girl who was raped by her uncle, “it happened for a reason.”  Or tell that to the young boy who was bullied so the point he wants to commit suicide.  It’s an awful phrase and is a lie from the pit of hell.

This is NOT what Romans 8:28 says.  Let’s read the text:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Horrible things happen to people.  And it’s not because “there’s a reason for it.”  Bad things happen because there is evil in us, evil in this world and a dark ruler called The Deceiver who would like nothing more than to add fuel to the fire.

Rape, murder, incest and more do not just “happen for a reason.”

There is hope in this verse though.  The hope is that God can take anything and redeem it.

Note that the actual translation is that God is the one who works all things together for the good.  Not “all things” working together for our God.  Only God can redeem a miss.

He didn’t cause the suffering, but He can use it for good.  He is a redeemer God.

It is like the art of kintsugi.  This is a Japanese word to describe when something like a pot breaks, and something even more beautiful is made by putting gold in the cracks.