Psalm 31:19-24 (KJV)
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.
22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
23 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
When life is pleasant, we find praising God easy because His kindness is abundantly evident. However, we may have difficulty recognizing pain and trouble as an expression of His loving care as well. In difficult times, we need to trust today’s scripture, which tell us that the Lord has stored up goodness for those who take refuge in Him.
If you believe that God is good only when your circumstances are enjoyable, then you misunderstand His nature and have become numb to the expression of His benevolence toward you. Those who’ve learned to know His character and trust His ways can see evidence of His goodness in all situations.
I haven’t always felt that the Lord was being good. While I was growing up, my goal was to be obedient so that He wouldn’t do anything bad to me. The difficult and painful situations in my life hindered my understanding of His goodness. As I look back, I can now see His love and wisdom in using those trials to shape my character.
Today, when God does something I don’t like, I pour out my heart to Him. After seeking His perspective and listening to Him, I’m filled with gratitude and trust in His character. Then I’m willing to accept the Father’s wise choice for my life.
We live under the umbrella of God’s goodness. When circumstances and emotions tell you otherwise, rely on what you know. Throughout the day, look for signs of His loving care for you. As your perspective changes, you will see the signs of His goodness everywhere you turn.
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