All Things for Good – Thomas Watson (4 of 9)

By Daren Dirksen

Published July 26, 2024

God works all things for your good!  Have you ever really taken the time to chew on that?  All things?  The best AND the worst things?    God works this?  For my good?  Why?

The more I think about Him sovereignly working all things in my life for good, the more it builds my trust and confidence in Him. It also brings about questions like, Why do all things work for good?

 In this chapter, Watson gives Biblical reasons why and then what that implies for our lives.

The ultimate reason all things work for good is because of who God is and the covenant that He has made with His people.  Jeremiah 32:38 says, “They shall be my people, and I will be their God.” All things turn to the best because He has a near and dear interest in His people. He is our God! This is seen relationally.

First, God is like a faithful physician to His patients. Watson says, “A physician does not so much study to please the taste of the patient, as to cure his disease.  He labors to heal us, not humor us.” Second, ‘Our God’ implies the relation of a father who loves His child. He is a tenderhearted and eternal Father (Dt. 8:5; Ps 103:13). So, whether it is a smile or a stroke, it is for the good of the child. Third, this implies the relation of a husband who loves and works for his bride (Isa. 54:5; 49:16; 42:3).  Fourth, it implies the relation of a faithful friend who will never fail you (Jms. 2:23; 4:4; Heb. 13:5). Finally, this implies the near relation of the head to the members of the body. This is a mystical union between Christ and the saints (Eph. 5:23). Watson says, “If the body be a microcosm, or little world, the head is the sun in this world, from which proceeds the light of reason.” Our God is very near His own people.

Watson then gives 10 life changing conclusions that we may derive from this great promise. I will only highlight the first 5 here.  I am going to leave the rest for you to read when you go buy your copy of this book!  May these help you meditate on this glorious promise.

From this promise we conclude:  

1. We will learn to adore the providence of God. Watson states, “God is the great disposer of all events and issues, He sets everything working.”  He adds, “Things in this world are not governed by second causes, by the counsel of men, by the stars and planets, but by divine providence.”  Psalm 103:19 says, “His Sovereignty rules over all.”
2. A true believer is always in a blessed condition! When they die they go to God and while alive all is for their good. How blessed is that?  It is good that we are afflicted (Job 36:10) as the bitter root of affliction bears sweet fruit (Heb. 11:26; 12:11). Fire does not hurt gold, it purifies it.
3. We will notice the miserable condition of the wicked, as all things good, work to harden not heal. While the providence of God works good in the believer, it also deepens the sin the wicked live in. As Watson states, “The same wind that brings one ship to its haven also blows another to the rock.” There is a hook or snare in the passions and pursuits of unbelievers as material and immaterial prosperity becomes a snare. These blessings in the end can result in fattening the cow for slaughter (1 Tim.6:9; Dt. 32:15; Eccles. 5:13; Ps. 69:22; Amos 5:10; 1 Pet. 2:8).  This should put us on our face in humble dependence on God as we know that we are no better than anyone else. But by grace go I…
4. We see the wisdom of God as He reaps His glory out of man’s fury (Ps. 76:10).
5. We learn that we have very little cause to be discontent in our trials and emergencies. This great promise keeps us from fainting in unbelief or fretting through impatience (Ps. 37:8; Jonah 4:9). Watson says;

“ What! Discontented at that which shall do us good! All things shall work for good. When men fly out against God by discontent and impatience it is a sign they do not believe this text. Discontent is an ungrateful sin, because we have more mercies than afflictions; and it is an irrational sin, because afflictions work for good. Discontentment is a sin that puts us to more sin (Ps. 37:8). The Devil blows the coals of passion and discontent and then warms himself at the fire. Oh, let us not nourish this angry viper in our chest.”

It is an amazing thing that all things work for good!  Imagine with me that a friend has a gift for you. It is a large bag filled with money. Imagine your friend throws it to you and as you fumble it, it bumps you in the head and leaves a mark. How troubled would you be over that bruise seeing that you now have a bag of money?  So the Lord may bruise us in afflictions, but it is to bless us. It is good for us that we are afflicted, So that we may learn His statutes.

As saints, we have every reason to be content in the Lord in all we go through. What a treasure we have in Him. Everything…All Things… works for good in the life of a saint.  May this text cause us to bear the fruit of contentment and patience as we root ourselves into Him.

1. Think of one difficult thing that you have been through in your life. Prayerfully ask God to help you see evidences of His grace in that situation. After reading the above 5 conclusions, list as many ways that God may have or is working your situation out for your good. Share those with someone.