We must understand what the Promise is

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.  Romans 8:28-30

This is one of the most reassuring scriptures in the whole Bible.  It doesn't matter what situation you find yourself in, if you are a Christian you have the promise from God that all things are working together for good for you.  Rest in that truth for a moment.  Let it sink in.

There is nothing that happens in this world outside of God's sovereign will.  Let me unpack that statement.  If you are a Christian, God is your fortress and He surrounds you and protects you.  The implication of that fact is nothing can happen to you unless God allows it through his walls.  And if He allows it through the walls the Bible guarantees you it is for your ultimate good.  That is what Romans 8:28 promises us as Christians.

When Paul made this statement he was responding to the suffering of Christians.  He was reassuring the believers in Rome that their suffering was temporary and that it would be replaced with glory.  Ten verses before this most wonderful promise Paul said, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)

Notice how verse 29 begins with the word "For".  When a sentence begins with "for" it means "because".  So the promise given in verse 28 is because of what is said in verses 29 through 30.  To hopefully make this more clear let me rephrase verses 28 through 30 and emphasize certain words:

All things work together for good for those who are called according to God's purpose BECAUSE those whom he foreknew he also predestined TO BE CONFORMED to the image of his Son.  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also JUSTIFIED, and those he justified he also GLORIFIED.

So what is the "good" that is promised to those who love God and are called according to his purpose?

1. You will be conformed to be like Christ.
2. You will be justified.
3. You will be glorified.

That is the most wonderful promise you could ever be given.  Notice that Paul never says God will remove our suffering in this life.  He says we will be conformed to be like Christ, which may come through suffering.  In fact, Paul says we as Christians may go through tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword (vs 35)!  Yet, "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (vs 37)  We may even die in the midst of our suffering but even then our suffering is but a momentary affliction.  Even death will not void the promise of verse 28 because after death we will be glorified.

This is not false hope.  It is hope in what is eternal instead of what is temporary.  "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39