Where to Find Feast of Tabernacles Gatherings in 2024 (for believers in Messiah)

Are you looking for a Feast of Tabernacles event happening near you? I'm excited to share this year's directory for 2024 to help you find a Sukkot event in your area. It features Tabernacle events happening in every region of the United States, and also our largest ever section of international celebrations, with feast sites in the UK, Canada, Australia, Africa, India, Asia, and Europe!

If you're looking for an opportunity to celebrate this Biblical holiday with other believers hopefully you can find a site that's celebrating in your area! Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is an eight day celebration, and many of these gatherings last for the duration, but some are shorter or longer. Even if you can only make a a day or two, it can be very worthwhile to worship the Creator with others during this special time.

When is the Feast of Tabernacles in 2024?

As you'll see below, different denominations and ministries go by different calendars, but most commonly the date to celebrate Tabernacles or Sukkot this year is October 16-24, but some will observe the feast starting in mid September. I would encourage you to pray about what dates you should keep.

Please note: I am not familiar with each ministry or all the people responsible for these Tabernacle events. People celebrate the Biblical holidays in a variety of ways, so reach out and contact the organizers ahead of time if you have specific questions about what that will look like. I simply want to give people the option of connecting with others through this list.

Feast of Tabernacles 2024 Event Directory:

SoCal Shabbat Fellowship Sukkot
September 17 - 27
Valley Center, California

Safe Haven Farms Sukkot
September 18 - 27
Dinuba, California

Sukkot NC
September 18 - 27
Triangle, Virginia

EliYah Tabernacles
September 18 - 27
Steelville, Missouri

Yahweh's Restoration Ministries Feast of Tabernacles
September 19 - 26
Holts Summit, Missouri

Wisconsin Dells Tabernacles
September 19 - 26
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Feast of Tabernacles Hudson Valley
September 29 - October 7 
Poughkeepsie, New York

Lion and Lamb Tabernacles
October 1-9
Chandler, Oklahoma

Victory Feast of Tabernacles
October 1-9
Lake Palo Duro, Texas

The Gospel Worth Dying For Sukkot
October 2 - 8
Brownwood, Texas

Crandall Sukkot Celebration
October 2 - 10
Crandall, Georgia

Torah to the Tribes: Succot at Su-Coast
October 3 - 8
Cloverdale, Oregon

West Yellowstone Tabernacles
October 16
Yellowstone, Montana 

House of David Sukkot Meal
October 16
Fairland, Oklahoma

Ocean City Tabernacles
October 16
Ocean City, Maryland

Tabernacles: Lion of Judah Roar
October 16 - 23
Bradenton, Florida

Midwest Sukkot: The Rehearsal
October 16 - 24
Manson, Iowa 

Hebraic Family Fellowship
October 16 - 24
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Sukkot YES
October 16 - 24
Amery, Wisconsin

Feast of the Nations Dogwood Tabernacle Sukkot
October 16 - 24
Seymour, Missouri

The Father's Call Festival Oxnard
October 16 - 24
Oxnard, California

Living Messiah Sukkot
October 16 - 24
Hereford, Arizona

Grafted Church Sukkot
October 16 - 24
Hinton, Oklahoma

Church of God Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Grand Junction, Colorado

Feast of Tabernacles Lancaster
October 16 - 24
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Tucson Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Tucson, Arizona

Big Sandy Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Big Sandy, Texas

Season of Our Joy Sukkot
October 16 - 24
Longview, Texas

Kohala Coast Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Waikoloa Village, Hawaii

Rapid City Sukkot
October 16 - 24
Rapid City, South Dakota

COGNJ Feast of Tabernacles
October 16 - 25
Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania

Passion for Tabernacles
October 16 - 25
Roach, Missouri

New2Torah Sukkot
October 16 - 25
Huntsville, Arkansas

Texas Tabernacles: Catching Fire
October 16 - 25
Waco, Texas

Jacob's Tent Sukkot
October 16 - 25
Cleveland, Tennessee

Feast of Tabernacles Eau Claire
October 16 - 26
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Messianic Torah Observant Israel Sukkot
October 16 - 27
Cleveland, Tennessee

Beth Yeshua International Sukkot
October 17
Macon, Georgia

Messiah Sukkot West Coast
October 17 - 21
Fall Creek, Oregon

Oak Stone Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Denton, Texas

Building Families in the Messiah Sukkot
October 17 - 24
Molalla, Oregon

Feast of Tabernacles Syracuse
October 17 - 24
Syracuse, Indiana

Guardian Ministries Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Sparks, Nevada

Lake Tahoe Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Lake Tahoe, California

Rock Valley Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Murrieta, California

Discipleship Church of God Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Tooele, Utah

Common Faith Network Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Panama City Beach, Florida

Fellowship in Faith Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Hot Springs, Arkansas

Fellowship in Faith Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Kentucky Lake, Kentucky

Sabbath Church of God Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Yorktown, Virginia

Guardian Ministries Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
South Lake Tahoe, California

Oakstone Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Burnet, Texas

Feast Meetup Sukkot
October 17 - 27
Duffield, Virginia

Sukkot: Season of Harvest
October 17 - 27
Sunset, South Carolina

Truth Seekers Montana Sukkot
October 17 - 27
Troy, Montana

House of Aaron Sukkot Weekend Celebration
October 18 - 20
Eskdale, Utah

Feast of Tabernacles Celebration
October 18 - 27
Livingston, Tennessee

The Harvest Sukkot
October 18 - 20
Tabernash, Colorado

Beth Ariel Sukkot
October 18
West Hills, California

Restoring His Way Feast of Sukkot
October 19 - 26
Wewoka, Oklahoma

Solel Fellowship Sukkot
October 1-9
Otisville, Michigan

Messiah's New Life Sukkot
October 19 - 26
Avilla, Indiana

For His Name Tabernacles
October 19 - 26
Sterling, Illinois

Brazos Bereans Feast of Tabernacles
October 19 - 27
Glen Rose, Texas

Stewarton Bible School Tabernacles
September 18 - 25
Ayrshire, Scotland

Calgary Tabernacles
October 16
Alberta, Canada

Kelowna Tabernacles
October 16
British Columbia, Canada

Montagnac Tabernacles
October 16
Montagnac, France

Agra India Tabernacles
October 16
Agra, India

Feast of Tabernacles Sri Lanka
October 16
Negombo, Sri Lanka

Tabernacles Tallinn
October 16
Tallinn, Estonia

Feast of Tabernacles Cortona
October 16
Cortona AR, Italy

Feast of Tabernacles Mont-Tremblant
October 16 - 24
Quebec, Canada

Festival of Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Cumbria, England

Baguio City Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Baguio City, Philippines

CESA Feast of Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Queensland, Australia

Tabernacles in Ghana
October 16 - 24
Cape Coast, Ghana

Feast of Tabernacles Western Australia
October 17 - 24
Mandurah WA, Australia

Nelson Bay Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
New South Wales, Australia

Tabernacles Taupo
October 17 - 24
Taupo, New Zealand

Feast Southport
October 17 - 24
Southport, England

Titisee Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Titisee, Germany

Kenya Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Kehancha, Kenya

Naivasha Tabernacles Celebration
October 17 - 24
Naivasha, Kenya

Tabernacles Gonubie
October 17 - 24
Gonubie, East London, South Africa

COG British Isles Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Meath, Ireland

COG UK Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
King's Lynn, Norfolk, England

Do you know of an event that I don't have listed? Let me know so it can be added!

Related posts:
Six Things You Can Do Now to Get Ready for the Fall Feasts
The Feast of Tabernacles: What it Means and Why You Should Celebrate
8 Things Scripture Says About the Feast of Tabernacles

The Myth and Meaning of 'I Do Not Permit a Woman to Teach'

What did Paul mean by "I do not permit a woman to teach"? This verse from 1 Timothy 2:12 that seemingly forbids women from teaching or preaching or 'having authority over a man' has long been used to ban women from ministry or even speaking about Biblical truth in many contexts. While most Christian denominations have taken these infamous words at their English face-value, if we study the words used and the rest of Scripture we will be able to see that this was not a universal ban on women teaching, and that Jesus and Paul both treated women with respect and dignity, and not like the lesser beings that many today believe.

Let's take a look at how this New Testament passage typically reads in English Bibles:

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner." -1 Timothy 2:11-14

It's easy to quickly read over those sentences from the NIV Bible and think that Paul is not permitting any woman, ever, to teach. Many denominations teach that because Eve was the one that was deceived it means that all women are gullible and easily deceived. Therefore, they cannot be trusted with teaching or exercising any kind of authority. 

Here we have the myth: women aren't allowed to teach. Period.

This one belief has held back millions of women from teaching the Gospel, and has brought a barrage of rude remarks and abuse on most women who do teach Scripture. But of course, the way denominations apply this supposed teaching of Paul is plainly at odds against what they believe he said. If women are so easily deceived that not a single one is fit to teach anything related to the Bible...then why is it okay for women to teach children or other women? Most people will point to "assume authority over a man," and make an assumption that Paul is saying that women just can't teach men. But, if the reason they can't teach is because women are gullible or easily deceived...why would they be allowed to teach women and children? Would that not be an incredibly terrible way to run things...to have deceived people teaching wrong ideas to children and then expect the children to grow up and understand faith and God's word? Would any denomination recognize that a teacher is deceived and then decide that they are fit to teach children and women?

However there is no caveat here that it's fine for women to teach children, their own or otherwise, or other women. Most people who teach this myth were taught the majority of what they know about God's word in children's Sunday school - and nearly all Sunday school teachers are women. I also frequently hear from women who attempt to teach me that women aren't allowed to teach...an irony so heavy that it's barely worth mentioning.

But you know what? That is not what Paul's getting at.

First of all, Paul frequently mentions women who are teachers and leaders in the early church movement, and he does so positively. Of all the people Paul offers greetings to at the end of the book of Romans, he only commends Phoebe, calling her a deacon and a leader (Romans 16:1). And he tells the people he's writing to, to support her. Most scholars believe that by listing her first, Paul is indicating that she is the one bearing his letter. That means that one of the most significant books in the New Testament was originally entrusted to a woman...which means once the letter was read, any questions about it would be directed towards Phoebe, who would then explain or elaborate on the meaning of Paul's words. Another word for explaining something would be teaching.

The second person he mentions in Romans is another woman, Priscilla. He calls her and her husband, Aquila, his coworkers in the Messiah. In Romans 16:12, he mentions three more women who work in YHWH, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis. In 1 Corinthians he encourages all believers to prophesy and speak in tongues...including women. Paul also points out in 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 that men and women have equal rights in the marriage.

We have covered elsewhere that the notorious, "Let women be silent, they are not allowed to speak," passage of 1 Corinthians 14:34 was Paul quoting someone else's incorrect quotation of Biblical law. 

In light of Paul being supportive of women like Phoebe in leadership roles in the church, it simply does not make sense that he would simultaneously ban all women from teaching. We see that he put Phoebe in a position of teaching his letter to the Romans. This sudden ban also doesn't fit with the Old Testament, where we see women like Deborah, Miriam, and Huldah in leadership roles. Contrary to popular belief, the Old Testament never says that women can't teach or lead.

So what is going on in 1 Timothy 2:11?

We should note that Paul's letter is composed in response to questions and concerns that Timothy was dealing with at the time. This means he wasn't compiling a list of life advice or helpful hints to pastoring, but is referencing specific situations and events that Timothy was dealing with.

If you study the New Testament, you're probably aware that ancient Greek doesn't have grammar in the sense that we are used to in English. The word that is mostly translated as "a woman" is just one word - gyne (Strong's G1135).  Which does mean a woman, but it means a certain or specific woman. It does not mean all women. The significance of this is huge.

This changes the meaning of this sentence from, "I do not permit any women to teach," to "I do not permit that specific woman to teach"!

The meaning of 1 Timothy 2:12: Paul does not permit a specific woman to teach.

Further support for this idea comes from the rest of the passage.

"...she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner." 

Many Christian denominations will tell you that because God made Adam before Eve, then the men of the world are entitled to do all the teaching and hold all the leadership positions, and women are forbidden from all ministry opportunities. But Scripture never says that Adam was superior because he was made first. Mind you, Adam was the second-to-last part of creation...are pigs and insects and fish superior to Adam because they were made before him? John and Stasi Eldredge teach in their book Captivating that woman being formed after Adam wasn't an insult or a sign of a lesser status, but that she was formed last as a fitting climax to the Creation story itself.

And if being made first is the issue here, wouldn't that mean that the pastor of every church should be the oldest person there? Should there be a ban on learning anything from someone who is younger than we are?

But why does Paul bring up that Adam was formed first? Well, if he's talking about a specific woman that Timothy is having trouble with, he's bringing it up because it ties in with the issue that he was addressing.

What many scholars believe was happening was that a certain woman in Timothy's congregation was teaching that Eve was formed first and that Adam was the one that was deceived. This information is incorrect based on the book of Genesis. So Paul was saying that he was not permitting this specific woman to teach, because what she was teaching went against the basics of what the Bible teaches.

This is a perfectly sensible approach to what was a bad situation for Timothy's community, and that's what I would want from any church or ministry...that they wouldn't allow any person - female or male - to preach incorrect information about Scripture, to anyone.

If we look at the passage in this light, where Paul is not placing a universal ban on all women teaching for all time, that makes sense with how he does support certain women who teach, such as Phoebe and Priscilla. Paul is not banning women from teaching, he's banning bad teaching.

We should also note that Paul is not banning all women everywhere from having any kind of authority over males. He's saying that he does not endorse this specific woman having authority, because she was wrong about what the Bible says. We know that Paul is not against women exercising authority or being in leadership. As mentioned earlier, he told the people in Rome to listen to Phoebe and be supportive of her.

A better translation of 1 Timothy 2:12 would be:

"I do not permit that woman to teach, because she lacks understanding about basic issues like Adam and Eve being formed."

I hope by now we can see that the criteria that Paul valued when it came to teaching was correct knowledge and understanding of the word of God and the work of the Messiah. Qualification is not based on gender. God used both men and women to teach his word, tell of his glory, to serve as prophets and leaders in the Old Testament and the New Testament and he still does so today.

Related posts:
The Truth About 1 Corinthians 14 and 'Women Should Be Silent'
Who Was Phoebe in the Bible?
Mary and Martha - The Real Meaning of the Messiah's Words in Luke 10

Who Was Phoebe in the Bible? (Her Significance as a Deacon in Romans)

This post takes a look at Phoebe, a deacon in the early church that Paul mentions in the book of Romans. We will take a look at who Phoebe was, where we see her in the Bible, where she was from, the connection she had to Romans, the significance she carries, and how that applies to believers today. Learning about Phoebe will give us a better understanding of what the Bible says about women in ministry. There's a lot to be gleaned from her, including Paul's beliefs about women.

Where we see Phoebe in the Bible:

"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me." -Romans 16:1-2 NIV

These two verses contain several significant details about Phoebe's life and ministry that we need to unpack!

Who was Phoebe in the Bible?

She lived in the coastal town of Cenchrea, in what is now Kechries, Greece. Living in a harbor town, she would have met many travelers stopping between Asia Minor, Italy, and Macedonia, and would have been exposed to various ideas and goods from around these parts of the world. This is the same town that Paul stopped in, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila, and cut his hair off, thus fulfilling his Nazirite vow (Acts 18:18). It seems likely that Phoebe and Paul met during this time, whether as a first meeting or to catch up again. Interestingly, Scripture does not record that Paul started the church in Cenchrea. It's possible that he did, but it's also a possibility that the Good News reached Phoebe's city another way. 

What Romans 16 tells us about Phoebe:

If you read Romans 16, you'll see that Paul had plenty of people to highlight and greet (the whole chapter - 25 verses - is him doing so), but the very first person he wanted to call attention to was Phoebe. And she is the only person listed that he specifically commends, and he goes out of his way to call attention the fact that she is a deacon and a leader. Other people he lists as friends, coworkers, brothers, or sisters, but only Phoebe does he give a title of leadership to.

This shows that Paul did not have a problem with women in leadership.

While Paul didn't hesitate to ban certain women from ministering or teaching when they were sharing things out of line with the Bible, he obviously did not have a problem with what Phoebe was doing or teaching - or he would have said something, as he frequently called out those in ministry for not acting appropriately. (Including Peter!)

Was Phoebe a deacon or a servant?

Different versions of Scripture translate Phoebe's title as either deacon (NIV) or servant (KJV), so which is it? The Greek word that's used is, diakonos. This word is usually translated as 'minister,' and it's the same one that Paul used in the previous chapter to describe the Messiah (Romans 15:8). Paul also uses it at other times to describe himself (Ephesians 3:7, Colossians 1:23).

Many denominations teach that while diakonos means minister or deacon in the case of Jesus and Paul, it means something more like servant or assistant when it comes to Phoebe. Downplaying Phoebe's role comes from misunderstanding Biblical passages related to women, and it is not implied by text itself. It's difficult to believe that Paul meant some sort of watered-down version of the word for a few reasons.

1. Paul is a master wordsmith. If he truly meant to call Phoebe a secretary or assistant or a lady that helps a lot, he would not have opted to use the exact word that he used 20 sentences earlier to describe the very Savior of the world. A middle schooler might make that kind of error on a homework assignment, but that's not what's happening here. 

2. If he did mean that Phoebe's work was insignificant, he wouldn't have mentioned her first. The next people he lists are Priscilla and Aquila, whom he calls his 'coworkers'. Paul shows respect to and believes in the work that Phoebe is doing.

3. The rest of what he says about her does not support this.

Scripture honors Phoebe with the title of deacon.

Paul instructs believers to receive Phoebe in a worthy manner.

We see that in Romans 16:2 Paul tells his readers to receive this woman in a manner that's worthy of the saints. Not just to receive her, but to receive her well. He's calling on them to be particularly good to her. He also tells the Romans that they are to support Phoebe. More than simply offering financial provision or help with the logistics of her visit, he is calling them to stand by her. The text indicates that he is calling on his readers to offer her moral support and respect.

Phoebe likely was responsible to explain the book of Romans.

Most scholars believe that by listing her first, Paul is indicating that she is the one he entrusted to bear this letter, which we of course know as the book of Romans. This means that one of the most significant books of the New Testament was originally entrusted to Phoebe, a woman. As she lived near a major harbor, it would have been relatively simple for her to sail to Rome from there. It was not only her job to transport it to Rome, she was responsible to clarify, explain, or elaborate on the questions the readers and listeners had, which naturally would be directed at her. 

Think about the implications of that. Paul sent the book of Romans with her and put her in a position where she would need to explain what he meant to anyone who didn't understand his meanings. This shows that he believed her to be capable of correctly explaining and expounding on his message. Paul placed Phoebe in a position to teach!

Phoebe was a spiritual leader to Paul.

"...for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me." -Romans 16:2b NIV

The end of the mention of Phoebe highlights another significant detail about her. The NIV uses the word 'benefactor' and many translations use the word 'helper'. It's easy to read words like that and think that Phoebe supported Paul financially, or that she let the apostles stay in her house occasionally, or maybe she cooked for them or did their laundry. We assume that the only help she was able to give was housekeeping or money...because the truth is that much of the church has significantly downplayed the roles and actions of the women of the Bible. We haven't been taught the significance of women like Phoebe, so it's easy to miss.

But once again, if we dig deeper into Scripture, and examine what words Paul used and what they meant to him, we will see that his words mean something more than what we have assumed.

The word that is translated as helper or benefactor is the Greek word prostatis (Strongs G4368) - a feminine noun derived from proistemi, which is usually translated to rule over, or something similar. We only see this word once in the New Testament, which should call our attention to the significant meaning behind it.

According to Strongs, prostatis means:

1. A woman set over others.

2. A female guardian, protectress, patroness.

Phoebe is a woman set over others, including Paul (Romans 16:2).

Further support for this idea comes from the definition of the root word, proistemi which means: to set over, to be over, superintend, preside over, to be a protector or guardian, to care for, give attention to. This is dynamite! Phoebe is a leader. 

It is very, very difficult to read these definitions and think that this woman had done nothing for Paul except make a donation or feed him a few good meals. Paul respected Phoebe as a spiritual leader. Again, Paul is an excellent communicator...if he hadn't meant that Phoebe was over others or acting as a guardian, protector, and patron, he would have used a different word. His word choice highlights that he himself learned from her and considered her a leader in the church.

It's also worth noting that even if we jump to the last possible definition of this word - 'patron' - it doesn't fit well with what many believe this passage to mean. In the cultural context of the time, a patron was someone who provided significant help. This is not someone who makes a $20 donation, but someone who sponsors the entire ministry, and pays yearly salaries. If Phoebe were wealthy enough to do so, would it make sense for Paul to tell the Romans to support her financially? Wouldn't there be better uses for their money than giving it to a very wealthy woman? The text simply can't mean that all Phoebe did was fund his ministry, or that the only support he expected the believing community to offer her was financial.

Elsewhere in Scripture we do see women financially supporting the Gospel (Joanna and Susanna in Luke 8:3), and prostatis is not the word used. If Phoebe's work was about physical or financial provision, that would have been described differently.

The latter part of Romans 16:2 could be translated as, "...for she has been set over many people, including me."

What Phoebe's life means for us today:

Her life demonstrates that the role of women in ministry is not limited just to children or other women. It's not just about doing secretary tasks, sweeping the floors, taking care of orphans, and so on. While those tasks matter, and those who do them are honored in the kingdom of Heaven, Phoebe's life and ministry show that women can also teach the Gospel and have positions of leadership in churches and ministries.

Paul himself, undoubtedly one of the greatest teachers of the Gospel in history, went out of his way to highlight that not only was this woman a deacon, but he himself was under her spiritual influence and authority. Paul respected her ministry. She had taught and encouraged Paul. Paul chose to validate that. Phoebe's life is a validation of women in ministry.

I know that many people will disagree with this message because it just doesn't fit with what so many pastors and churches have told us about women in ministry. I would highly encourage you to study the original meanings of the words Paul chose to use and look at what this passage meant to the writer. Here's a link to the Strongs definition of prostatis to get your studies started.

More about women in the Bible:
The Significance of Sarah in the Bible
1 Corinthians 14:34 Does Not Mean Women Aren't Allowed to Speak
The Real Meaning of the Mary and Martha Story

What Romans 8:28 Actually Means

"For God works all things together for the good of those who love him." -Romans 8:28

This statement made by Paul in the New Testament is packed full of hope, isn't it? I love the promise of the idea that no matter what happens in my life, God will bring something good to me through that. An ugly situation will be weaved into something beautiful. Bad things will be turned around. That's the power of YHWH, the one who trades beauty for ashes.

This idea isn't limited in origin to Romans 8:28. Joseph told his brothers that what they had intended for evil, God had used for good. So I'm not saying that the common understanding of this verse is wrong. But it is limited. There is more to it than what sits above the surface.

Most of us have heard, or experienced ourselves, first hand accounts of this. The person that claimed the awful car-accident was the wake up call they needed to fix their marriage. Someone insisting that getting fired from a job was the best thing that ever happened to them. And yet...all of us have experienced deep heartache, grief and loss that can feel too heavy to bear.  There are certain pains in life where it seems cruel to say, "Not to worry - good will come from this." 

And that's where we need to see the deeper meaning of Romans 8:28.

The point of this passage isn't limited to all things somehow working out to be beneficial to followers of God, even if they don't see how in the world that could be true until eternity. Romans 8:28 also means that no matter what happens, it is our job to work with God to bring about good in this world.

Again, while I firmly believe that God is faithful to turn around the mess in our lives, we are also called to work with him in that! That means there is tremendous hope in each of our lives! Not just for good to happen to us. But to overcome the hard things and heartache, and continue to be faithful servants of YHWH, doing everything we can to bring about good into the world.

Many of us struggle to take our eyes off their hardships and the brokenness of our world. And I get that. There are far too many overwhelming situations and heartaches for most of us. And there are scary statistics and predictions about society, the economy, depression rates, and the environment on the news every day. It's easy to want to throw your hands up in the air and say "What's the point?" But truthfully, as the body of Messiah this is our time to step into the role that God created us for. It is your job to work with God to bring about good in your life, your family, your community, and our world, no matter what unwanted circumstances may arise.

Here's a better rendering of Romans 8:28

"We know that God works all things together for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose."

Related posts:

What Does 'No Greater Burdens' in Acts 15:20 Mean?
The Real Meaning of 1 Corinthians 14:34
The Beautiful Detail You've Never Heard from the Prodigal Son Parable