The Goodness of God

Blessed beyond measure.

Cared for, beyond description.

Seeing favor in ways & places far beyond what I deserve.

And…sometimes still needing to pray for the ‘daily bread’ and basic financial provision to meet obligations each month.

If those sound like opposites to you, I’m hoping this brief reflection will serve to re-arrange your thinking about God’s goodness.

Blessed has nothing to do with bank balances.

Favor doesn’t necessarily mean freedom from opposition.

And being cared for? Most often that looks like being carried through the storm, than experiencing calm seas for sailing.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, and walked out not even smelling like smoke because they were surrounded by the goodness of God.

Daniel continued to do what is right, yet was still thrown into a den with hungry lions. He walked out the next morning unharmed because of the goodness of God.

Paul was shipwrecked, flogged, imprisoned, harassed constantly….and taught us to rejoice in the Lord always, because our God is so good.

The friend who calls or texts randomly, and just happens to have that one verse you need right at that moment….. THAT is the goodness of God at work.

Having deep peace in times of crisis, where peace replaces panic when tragedy strikes.

The ability to take a deep breath, producing a grace-filled response where yesterday, anger ruled.

Living in a country where, for all its flaws, opportunities abound to start fresh, stay focused, and find new ways to survive and thrive.

When I wake up each morning to a new day, inhale the fresh morning air, see the light of a sunrise….I know I have been given another day which many others have not.

The goodness of God is recognizing the One who created the universe – and knit together every molecule of my being  –  is the same One who whispers words of grace and forgiveness when I recognize my pride has left me, and those close to me, covered in a muddy veil of regret.

Basking in His goodness is when I see generations of alcoholic, criminal, base behavior behind me, yet look around to see love, faithfulness, kindness and grace growing in my generation, and the next.

You are reading this on some form of electronic device. Celebrate your ability to read, to have access to the internet, and the use of a device that brings these words to you.

Goodness comes in many forms.

And, our Western mindset tends to miss most of them.

Take a few moments and reflect in your own life: how many times, ways, places do YOU walk in the goodness of God, every single day?

[Rev. LoriJo Schepers has been in ministry for several decades, serving as pastor, on-air personality for a local Christian music station, and currently as Executive Director of Barnabas Ministries. She has been a writer since she could hold a pencil, her first publication at 15. She shares more of life and faith on her blog  HopeScribe. She has four grown children and three special granddaughters. Her contact: lorijo@barnabasmin.org]