HOUNDED BY GOD’S GOODNESS

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes, small details irk, stress, and frustrate us. We grumble and complain about the little bumps in the road that have easy solutions. There is always someone who knows more that we do to help us iron out our problem.

At other times, life-changing disaster hits us head-on and we are left reeling and staggering. Is there anyone who can help to ease the pain of loss, or lift us out of the pit of financial disaster, or heal a broken relationship?

Since we cannot escape the small or big troubles that Jesus said would always be part of this life, the Bible must have an answer for the tears and pain we are continually suffering. It does, and if we are willing to heed its counsel, life’s pain will begin to take on meaning and purpose.

There IS something we can do when no one else can help us. First, we can change our perspective. If it’s only about me, then suffering has no meaning. If it’s about God and me, then God in the mix changes everything. Job’s story can be our story if we cling tenaciously to God and believe what He said.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Romans 8:28 NLT

Can God really make my troubles work for my good? Yes, if I am willing to trust Him. When trouble strikes, God’s goodness is the first thing we question. Is God really good, all the time? How can God’s goodness affect my situation? Our reaction to trouble often exposes our unbelief in God’s goodness.

Instead of wringing our hands when trouble hits, resisting with noisy complaints, and running hither and yon to fix the problem, let’s slow down and wait for God’s goodness and mercy to catch up with us. And it will.

He wants us to trust Him for the outcome before we go into a tailspin and mess up the good He wants to do for us. God often draws our attention to His word before He demonstrates its truth in our experience so that His Word will be indelibly written on our hearts.

“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalms 23:6 NLT

If there is something we can do to solve the problem, then let’s do it BUT, do it without grumbling and complaining because there is often a hidden blessing in the trouble. If the solution is out of our hands, then His goodness will catch up with us if we wait for Him.

PRAYER

Thank you, Father God, for the reassurance in your Word that you are always with me, especially in times of trouble and in my darkest days. You are near to the broken-hearted and you always hear the cry of those who call on your name.

Help me, Lord, in my weakness. I need your grace to overcome my doubts and fears at this time. I need faith to trust you when I can’t see the path ahead of me. I need patience to wait for your answers. Help me to slow down, to stop running in panic, to stop trying to fix my own problems so that your goodness and mercy can catch up with me.

Thank you, Father, that you have heard my cry.