Surgery. Many of us have experienced it. It is inconvenient, painful, unpleasant, frightening, and disruptive. Yet we choose to submit to it. Why? Because the pain is worth the gain. It promises to produce a good result.

God’s Word assures the believer that all pain is a process with a purpose. In fact, God guarantees that the purpose will have a good outcome.

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. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers (Rom. 8:28-29).

The guarantee of Romans 8:28-29 contains three truths that fortify us in difficulty.