Good for me
I think I knew there was a difference between “good” and “good for me” as an infant at lunchtime. Pudding is good. Peas are good for me. I like things that are “good.” I tolerate things that are “good for me.” Now that I’m older, I understand that sometimes good-for-me things are also good, or at least they can serve me in some way. Like lower my cholesterol, improve my colon health, blah, blah, blah.
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Romans 8:28 doesn’t promise pudding. It does assure us that things work together for our good when we love God and live in accordance with God’s will for us. “Good” here may not mean “to our liking.” In fact, “good” often turns out to be peas. But once we recognize that there are benefits to peas, and that our souls are satisfied when we are in close communion with God, the end result is very good indeed.
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”