Saturday, February 14, 2009

God's goodness

A big part of the life of faith consists in really learning to trust in God's goodness. We affirm what Scripture says, that God is good. Yet we struggle when bad things happen to us and around us. And we struggle with fears over what might happen, since we live in a world which is full of trouble. And there's no doubt that we will have troubles in this life.

To learn to begin to really rest in God's goodness is an important aspect of the life of faith for us in Jesus. As we persist in that, through the bad times and good, we will begin to see God's goodness at work in our lives, in a kind of unfolding way. In a way in which we can see progress in ourselves. And seeing change towards becoming holy and more like the Lord, is at the same time satisfying to us. We are becoming more as our Creator made us to be, more human. By grace we are tasting more and more that the Lord is good, and we are remaining in that goodness.

I am learning this in my own life. Certainly requires faith, and sometimes prayers from others to help us overcome our lack of faith, as well as dependence on God to keep going on in that. True for myself!

When we depart, of course the Lord is faithful to work to bring us to our senses. We all need to keep learning more and more to trust in God's goodness. To learn more and more to rest in that. And to even revel in it. Seeing it in the little things of life, as well as the bigger. And trusting through the dark and difficult times that God's goodness will prevail.

Anything you'd like to share on God's goodness?

8 comments:

Lulu said...

Do you ever have those days where you know something has to be true because you fully accept the Word as truth and God keeps his promises but there is still a huge gap between that promise and where you are, and although you know that you believe it, you still don't know how to get there from here?

Does that even make any sense?!
x

Ted M. Gossard said...

Beautiful Intellectual,

I think I know what you're getting at. We just have to know that God has a lot of changing to do of us. So we have to hang in there.

I find that God keeps giving me enough of something to keep on going on and trusting. Or if I bale out I pay the consequences and God works so I want to get back to trusting again.

Something like that.

Maxine said...

I was reading the Word just this morning and noticed the awesome promises from God. I can't even begin to comprehend how good he is! The things he has done in my life are miraculous!!

Happy Valentines Day Ted & Deb!
From Your little Sis

Ted M. Gossard said...

Amen, Maxine. Amen!

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours as well!

Love,
Ted

therealkimaliczi said...

I find that it's during the times I lose sight of eternity that I lose sight of God's goodness. When bad things happen, our human tendency is to focus on the here and now - understandable, but the here and now isn't all there is, praise God! When I'm more eternity focused, it's easier to remember that God is indeed working out all things for my good and for the good of those who love Him. Even in the bad times. Just throwing that out there - initial thoughts after I read what you wrote.

Lanny said...

I found that God's goodness was much easier for me to see when I distanced myself from those who saw His goodness as some bitter pill to swallow or so latent that we may actually never see it. Once I remove those crippling colored glasses God's goodness came into clear view. Thank God that He showed me how to take those distorting glasses off.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Kim,
Yes, I hear you. It's about perspective. Reminds me of Colossians where it tells us to set our hearts on things above, not on the things of this earth. Since we have already died, and our life now is hidden with Christ in God.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Lanny,
Yes. Certainly is good for us, and something we should experience in this life, for sure. Amen.