What comes before it?
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Paul wrote Romans to the churches in Rome, probably in the late 50s AD. From verse 18 he talks about present suffering, the whole creation groaning, believers groaning, and the Spirit helping when we do not know what to pray. Read Romans 8:18-27. Verse 28 is spoken into that ache.
What is the good?
28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Translations word verse 28 differently. The NKJV says “all things work together for good”. The NIV says that in all things God works for the good. Either way, the sentence is about God's purpose for His people. Verse 29 names that purpose: to be “conformed to the image of His Son”. The good is a person being made like Jesus, which can happen through hard things as well as easy ones.
Does it mean bad things will not happen?
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
A few verses later Paul lists distress, persecution, famine and the sword. He does not say they will not come. He says none of them can separate believers from the love of Christ.
How should you use this verse with someone who is suffering?
Gently, and usually later. Said too quickly at a funeral or a hospital bed, it can sound like “this is good”, which is not what Paul said. In the same letter he asks for something else first:
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Sit with someone in their sorrow. Offer the hope of Romans 8 when they are ready to hear it.
For example: “Father, I do not see any good in this yet. Thank You that nothing can separate me from Your love. Shape me to be more like Jesus, even here. Amen.” This is a prepared example.
For a method you can use with any verse, read how to read a Bible verse in context. For the whole letter, see our guide to Romans.