“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28a).

Attitude is everything. I believe you've heard that before. If not from your parents, then from your teachers or your friends. In aviation, the term attitude describes the relationship between an aircraft and the horizon. Is the airplane nose up or nose down? Is it banking right or banking left? This relationship of airplane to horizon is affected mainly by two things: airflow and gravity. It's not a difficult comparison when talking about a person's attitude in life. Simply put, attitude describes the relationship between a person and his surroundings.

Worldly wisdom would have us believe that when good things happen to a person, a good attitude can be expected. Conversely, when bad things happen, a bad attitude is understandable. Is it possible for a person to have good things happen in his life and still have a bad attitude? Is it possible for a person to have bad things happen in his life and still have a good attitude?

I know people who have had terrible things happen to them and they are still happy, spirit-filled folks. If questioned about this attitude, they could undoubtedly explain their positive attitudes as nothing more than the outgrowth of their faith in Jesus. No matter what happens to them on this earth, they know they have a place secured in heaven thanks to their Savior Jesus. Once they get there, the glory of that home will render the ills of this world insignificant.

If you have trouble believing Paul's words in Romans “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,” look back at your own life and put those words to the test. The broken right arm you suffered in high school before the basketball season? Did it force you to practice with your left hand and become a better all-around player? The broken heart you suffered when your best friend betrayed you? Did it present you with the opportunity to open your heart to a new friend? The broken body of a loved one who died from cancer? Did it sharpen your empathy and made it possible for you to comfort someone else.

It is possible there are things in your life that have not been resolved in a good way—yet. God's good solution, or your understanding of His solution, may not become clear for some time. It is possible that you won't understand why things happened the way they did until you finally enter heaven, at which time your conversation with God may go something like this: “Why did you let such terrible things happen to me when I was in eighth grade?”

“For the simple reason that I loved you,” God will say. “I tested you in order to strengthen your faith. I wanted you to spend eternity with Me.”

“What's the most important thing to remember when you're flying?” a child asked a pilot.

“Altitude is everything.”

“You mean attitude?”

“Yes, that too,” the pilot said with a smile.

For the Christian, what is the most important thing to remember? Trust in Jesus’ salvation and in the promise that all things God works for the good of those who love him; then a good attitude will be evident to all.

Daniel Madson is a former school teacher and now a member of Abiding Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin.