And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Rom 8:28

This does not mean that something like cancer or an automobile accident is good in itself. This means that in the broad scheme of things God can take all sufferings, sorrows, infirmities, and everything else of a discouraging and calamitous nature which might befall God's child on earth and turn them into good for the child of God. Not good necessarily in the sense of earthly prosperity, success, bodily health, or any other purely mortal benefit, but to the eternal felicity of the soul. Whatever might happen to the Christian in this life, God is able to overrule each earthly circumstance in such a manner as to turn it into a contributitive factor in the life of the Christian. Jesus promised to get us to the other side of the sea, but He did not promise it to be a smooth journey, and it is through these tribulations that we become stronger children of God.

Everything will not turn out all right for every person in any case. There stands a significant distinction - "to them that love God...Work together for good." God is at work on the Christian's behalf. The reaction of the child of God, or his response, to the ills of mortal life must be one of patience, submission, humility, prayer, love, hope, and faith. Even adversity of the severest kind must be made to yield its precious fruit in the heart of the Christian. Adversity is the blessing that strengthens us.