"My God is a good God, yes He is, My God
is a good God, yes He is!
This afternoon this little chorus
came to mind, and I sang out loud to God, remembering this amazing truth.
"He picked me up and He turned me around
and He set my feet on solid ground.
My God is a good God, yes He is, My God is a
good God, yes He is."
Life is hard, we all know that. If my own life isn´t challenging enough, I
look around, read the news and ache for the suffering in so many hearts and
homes. It is hard to believe and live
life based on believing God is a good God. My emotions come and go, like the
ebb and flow of the ocean tides. Sometimes I´m
up excited about life and what God is doing.
However, all too often I´m frustrated, discouraged and weighed down
under a cloud of anxiety and doubt. My
circumstances may not be so difficult, but frustrations with my commitment to
the Lord, of trying to “perform” for others and living up to what I think God
expects of me, bring discouragement. I struggle
with anxiety, living one day at a time. I
desire to let go and let His pace envelope me, not condemn myself for being a
"lousy" Christian. Last week
Pastor Armando spoke to our little group out at Camp. It is a walk of faith, he
reminded us. He shared with us about his
own faith crises and how God spoke to him.
"Jesus said the gates of hell cannot prevail against His church, The
Lord showed me that who am I to think I can damage His kingdom work?"
God is sovereign and works through
us, and sometimes in spite of us. Our
critics claim we depend on a crutch, that this faith business is
ridiculous. Is it? The alternative of not having faith is
worse. Many Bible passages leap out at
me. Studying God´s word brings comfort, challenge
and encouragement.
Abide in Jesus; He is the true vine…
Nothing can separate me form His love...for a time you will have sorrow,
but your sorrow will be turned to joy...we are to expect persecution and
suffering (ouch,
that does scare me!) yet the Counselor,
the Holy Spirit will come to you and help you, show the way to keep your form
stumbling. (Gospel of John chapters 14, 15,16)
More than anything, I want to beware
of a "dangerous loss of memory".
That's where the Israelites failed miserably. They “tested God, complained,
did not believe, rebelled, spoke against God, did not trust, did not believe,
were unfaithful, tempted, limited, provoked..." (Psalm 78) In spite of this, God was roused to
compassion, misericordia, freed them from
their oppressors, forgiving their sins, not just once, but time and again.
Jesus calls us His friends, if we
obey His commandments. May my Lord give
me the strength to obey. "Looking back and thanking God for past
blessings can equip us to face the future with confidence...we should trust
God, remembering His deeds and thus leading us to obedience."(Encounter
with God devotional by Scripture Union).
These past couple weeks I´ve been
anxious, worrying about the future and doubting God will continue to supply all
my needs. It is hard for me to trust God and have faith in this area. As I was praying, I thought of the
silly mutts we have in our house. They are
always anxious for meal times, often begging well before it is time. What if one of them was to look at the bag of
dog food and think,
“It looks
like food is getting kind of low. I hope
our owners remember to get more. What if
we run out? Will we go hungry? Oh my, I sure hope they buy more soon!”
Pecas in particular was fond of
eating everything and anything in sight.
Since we rescued her form the street many years ago, she never lost the
habit of eating garbage, like she
was never convinced the next meal would really come along. Don´t I act like that when I worry about
God´s provision for the future? Of
course we always make sure our four legged friends have enough to eat,
sometimes too much! Jesus reminds us
that if we, being imperfect, know how to give good gifts to our children (or
pets!), our Heavenly Father will certainly give good things to those who ask Him. He also tells us not to worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each
day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6)
I decided to make a list of all His
blessings over recent months, years.
1. My bills are paid and I´m not in
debt.
2. There is food in the house, I´ve
never gone hungry due to lack of funds.
3. Full tank of gas in truck. God has kept this vehicle running in spite
of; robbery, major engine overhaul, various repairs many, many trips and lots
of kilometers racked up!
4. I am in good health and thankful
for insurance that covers wellness visits.
5.
I share a lovely home with two precious sisters in the faith (and our
dogs!).
6. God has always provided my needs,
and many of my wants.
7. "Let not your hearts be
troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me." (John 6)
8. I have a godly heritage in both
my parents, and a brother and his family who faithfully serve the Lord.
9." Cast all your cares on Him,
because He cares for you." (I Peter 5:7)
10. “My God will supply ALL your
needs according to His riches in glory." (Philippians 4:19)
11. I´m privileged to be part of two
countries and have friends around the world.
12. For over twenty years I have
been in full time Christian service. God
has kept and preserved me through many challenges and joys.
13. I live in a place that allows
freedom of worship without fear of being killed or hauled off to jail.
14.
God´s grace is greater than all my sins!
15. I can talk to God anywhere, anytime about anything
and be sure He hears and will respond.
The list
could go on, and on. When I learn to
focus on one day at a time, count my blessings and leave the future to Him,
peace comes. I still ache for those suffering and wonder when God´s promises
don´t seem to be fulfilled. Through
prayer, persistent prayer, I am thankful we can come into God´s presence, trusting
Him to work in others’ lives. Now, instead
of worrying, I am excited to see how God will provide for me and those for whom
I pray. We do walk by faith, not by
sight. Yet God sometimes graciously does
give sight, so we can see Him at work and be encouraged, praising and glorifying
His name.
Indeed,
God is a good God, yes He is!
