When Paul writes in Romans 8:28 that “all things work together for good to them that love God,” the purpose is to “conform” those who love God “to the image of the Son” (8:29). The good is conforming to the image of the Son, God’s purpose for mankind. The all things can be bad things, which is why it is “all things,” not just the good things. God uses trials, which are a main feature of the sanctifying process in scripture. God uses trials and tribulations to work varied Christian graces and character traits into a Christian. He also chastises His children, but trials are different than chastisement. James writes about trials in his epistle, and the believer who endures them will be stronger and will indicate that he possesses genuine saving faith. Trying the faith, he says in the first chapter, works patience or endurance. That’s how trials work in the lives of a believer, fulfillling the idea truly, that when the going gets tough the trough get tougher. The tough would be believers. They will be hardened in their resolve to continue. I’ve heard it said, and it’s true, pain has a way of screaming at you when pleasure only whispers to you. A stronger message can be received through pain. It doesn’t mean that you’ve got to like the pain, but you’ve got to like the message, the lesson through the pain. The Apostle Paul wrote about the fellowship of suffering. Sometimes we do suffer for evil, and that doesn’t count, but even that can strip a believer of self-dependence. This is all good for those who love God.