Reflecting on God's Sovereignty and His Plan

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
—Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV)

Jerry Bridges notes,

No one can act and no circumstances can occur outside the bounds of God's sovereign will. But this is only one side of His sovereignty. The other side, which is just as important to our trusting Him, is that no plan of God's can be thrarted. God has an over-arching purpose for all believers: to conform us to the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). He also has specific plan for each of us that is His purpose for each of us that is His unique, tailor-made plan for our individual life (see Ephesians 2:10).
—Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God Even When Life Hurts: Study Guide. (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1989. p. 21)

When Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things are working together for good, to those that love God, we should take heed to the deeper meaning of this verse. It is frequently quoted as a source of comfort, but we should duly note the conditional clause. If we're a child of God, born again, then we love God. As our Lord Jesus avows, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15 NKJV). One should seek God's righteousness diligently and heed his commandments, not just the blessings of God. Too often, believers are seeking the blessings and not the needed sanctification which requires yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit in our life.