In the early church, the Christians suffered greatly under emperor Nero and the Roman Empire. Paul’s response to that suffering, God is working it all out for good for those who love him. Not only that, but God choose them before time began to be in his family so that they could be conformed into the image of Christ, and one day be fully glorified with him in heaven. In our times of struggle, doubt, or hardship we must remember, God loved and choose us first. If that is true, if he planned all of that from eternity past just so we could be in his family as his redeemed children, then maybe we can trust him through whatever this world throws at us.