His Purpose
God has a specific purpose for calling people to salvation and everything that happens to us leads to that end. He knew before He created anything who would be saved and He is making absolutely sure that each one of us fulfills His purpose in salvation.
What is His purpose in salvation? That each person who is saved will be made as much like Jesus as it is possible to be. When all is said and done Jesus will be lifted up as the greatest among a multitude of glorified saints. God will not be side tracked from this plan and He uses everything that happens to produce this good thing in us.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. [Romans 8:28-30]
