We all have a lot of questions about our lifetimes on earth. Why do bad things happen to good people and the bad guys always seem to be getting away with it? Why does God heal me of my fever blister, while others I have prayed for died of cancer? Why doesn’t God just send me a list of what He wants me to do every day? I know you have many questions too.

Paul seems to settle every question you could ever ask about our purpose here on earth when he writes, 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. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:28-30). Paul seems to believe that once you’ve got that teaching settled, you’ve got the answer to all your questions.

He goes on to test that fact by asking a list of common questions Christians often ask in Romans 8:31-35. He asks:

1. What, then, shall we say in response to this?
2. If God is for us, who can be against us?
3. How will He (God) not also, along with Him (Jesus) graciously give us all things?
4. Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
5. Who is he that condemns?
6. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

These are great questions for you to ask of yourself. The answers will help you with all the other myriad questions that come into your life. Here are my answers.

1. I want to respond to this great truth that God is intimately aware of and working through every blessing and disappointment in my life.
2. I don’t need to be afraid of man or satan or anyone or anything. God is for me. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to know—that someone is for me!
3. I do believe that God has given me all I really need so graciously through Jesus. He also supplies my wants graciously.
4. There may be lots of people who would like to bring a charge against me. I’ve given them plenty of ammunition being a sinner and all. But, since Jesus has forgiven all my sins, their charges just won’t hurt me.
5. Jesus is the only one who can condemn me, but He is the One who has pronounced that I am not guilty.
6. I not only have God for me, I also have an unbreakable love from God surrounding me. I can ignore God; I can blame Him; I can laugh at Him; but I cannot separate myself from the reality that He loves me! That is amazing. Therefore, like Paul, I will not let anything like trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword make me feel unloved by God (Romans 8:35).

God never denies us the opportunity to ask Him questions. I know I have asked quite a few. But it always comes down to the same answer: Faith and trust in a God who loves me. The answer to all of my questions has been to become convinced of His love. Paul closes Romans 8 with the real answer to every question: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).