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b'In recent years, our local high school has turned out two star basketball players. One, since graduating, has gone on to play in the NBA. The other, a senior, led the team to winning the state title this year.\\nYet when the coach is interviewed, he never boasts about one individual player, but rather, he praises the efforts of the whole team. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153No achievement is reached by a sole player. It takes the skill and synergy of the entire team,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d he says.\\nSynergy occurs when combined efforts yield a greater result than the sum of individual parts, or in this case, players. The word comes from the Greek sunergeo, meaning \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153to work together.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d It\\u2019s used in a commonly quoted verse of Scripture, Romans 8:28: \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nIn the context of suffering, the apostle Paul wants the church to know that although God doesn\\u2019t cause their suffering, He will in all things\\u2014the seemingly good and bad\\u2014be working to bring to pass His desired plan for their ultimate good.\\nWe might easily think \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153good\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d refers to success, health, or happiness. But the next verse sheds further light: \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d In every challenge or difficulty we face, we can be confident that God is working for our good by making us more and more like Jesus\\u2014the One who understands all our struggles and heartaches, our joys and triumphs. We can draw near to Him, trusting that He is working in all our circumstances for our good and His glory and kingdom purposes.\\nIn Christ, God shapes our lives to become more like His Son, a process that will one day be complete when we see Him face-to-face (2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:2). \\n\\u2022 When have you worked together with others to accomplish a goal or complete a task? \\u2022 Can you recall a challenging circumstance in your life in which you saw God working? \\u2022 Have you experienced a difficult time that God used to make you become more like Jesus? \\nAnd we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nHebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 4:12-13'