God's Goodness

So, one would wonder how we have been able to remain sane through all of our struggles and trials.  You may ask how we have managed to put one foot in front of the other in the face of our intense grief and our losses.  You could be asking, why would we even want to go on??

Well, I can answer that question.  This is the answer:

"I called Your name, O Lord, from the lowest pit.  You have heard my voice.  You drew near on the day I called to You and said 'do not fear!'" Lamentations 3:55-57


That's only one of the many reasons we are able to live life again, to actually smile and laugh and go on.

You see, we believe in a God Who is sovereign, and Who is totally in control.  We believe that the God Who breathed the world into existence carefully and conscientiously crafted our lives too, from the very first breath we took to all of the days written for us in His book.  We have firm proof that He even knows the very number of hairs upon our heads, and that we, His handiwork, are far more valuable in His eyes than even the sparrows......

"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from the Father's will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31


We believe that He is in control of our lives, of our destinies, of what happens to us.  You may ask why, if He is so loving and so good, why would He allow such things to happen to His beloved? I have an answer for that too......"I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."  Pruning is no fun! Pruning hurts very, very badly. But He does it for our good, so that we may live richer, fuller lives in Him.

We believe that when He asks great hardship of us, He carries us through.  We believe that though the waters rise dangerously high, and the winds shriek deafeningly, He protects us.  He says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you.  I have called you by your name, You are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you, for I am the Lord your God."


And elsewhere, even the apostle Paul, whom the Lord Jesus chose as one of His intimate followers, was afflicted! See here: "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed.  We are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed.  We are always carrying about in the body the dying of our Lord Jesus Christ, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh"


See, He makes promises to us.  He has a covenant with us, and it's an everlasting covenant! He will never, never break His promises to us.  Everything He does is right and good and true and fair, and it is not in Him to go back on His word or break His vows to us.

But you must know, it is not easy for us. We doubt! We fear! We question and rage and ask and even walk away from Him for a bit.....But He stands still.  He is always willing to hear us.  And He is willing to hear you, today, this minute.

If you are hurting and wondering and questioning in your heart as to why you are in the circumstance you are in, call out to Him, friend.  He is there.  He hears.  He even understands deeply your struggle, for He Himself, the God of the universe, had to give up His one and only Son! So, let me just close this post by assuring you with some more verses that yes, indeed, He understands every one of your tears, and each wrenching pain you feel!

Turn to Him today!

"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine." Psalm 33:18-19


"The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18


Psalm 91