God is Good. (Gratitude and more gifts)

I enjoy my life—occasionally.

I give thanks for my life—sometimes.

I lament my lot in life—often.

Why is it so easy to default to ingratitude? What is it in the core of who I am that finds it more convenient to zero in on the negatives than the positives?

And I even tend to be a “glass-half-full” person! What about those who are “glass-half-empty folks”? It must be extremely difficult for them to focus on good.

Is God Good All the Time?

All is well when my day sails along smoothly. And I am quick to give thanks during those times. But with the first tiny wave, the first gentle rock of the boat, I latch onto cynicism and entitlement.

Doesn’t He care? Why does this always happen to me? Nobody else has to deal with this. Why can’t I get ahead in this world?

The flood gates open to negativity.  Sometimes I manage to stem the tide, letting the truth of God’s love for me slam the gates shut.

More often, though, the waves carry me along. I fall into bitterness and dissatisfaction.

I once asked a question of a fellow Christian: Do you believe God is good? His answer, usually, brought me up short.

How could he even voice such a thing? What kind of Christian is he?

But is he any different from me? Perhaps he’s more honest.

Foolishness

Aren’t I questioning the Lord’s goodness when I let a wave rock my world? When I base my gratitude on what I see and experience? When I complain? When I let my thoughts be consumed with me and my afflictions?

Aren’t I then questioning the goodness of God, even without saying it outright?

In the throes of his horrible affliction, Job’s wife suggests he curse God and die. Job’s answer:

“You speak as a foolish woman speaks … Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?”

This is a question each Christian should ponder long. Are we willing to only accept His goodness when it looks or feels good to us? Are we going to continue to speak foolishness?

Are we willing to only accept God's goodness when it looks or feels good to us? Embrace it however it presents! Click To Tweet

Embrace God’s Goodness

We are told in the Word that as God’s adopted children, He only wants to prosper us, to give us good. Do we believe that? I mean really believe?

If so, perhaps it is time to put aside our grumbling. To repent and ask for forgiveness when we fall back into complaining and questioning (which we will do). To embrace His goodness in whatever way it presents itself.

Today is a perfect day to let truth reign—the truth of God’s love and goodness, especially in the midst of our afflictions.

It's a perfect day to let the truth of God’s love and goodness reign, especially in the midst of our afflictions. Click To Tweet

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Reflections: Are you a “glass-half-full” or a “glass-half-empty” person? Have you struggled with believing the truth of God’s goodness when it doesn’t look or feel good? What do you focus on to keep from speaking foolishness?

Gratitude list:

• fresh “after-rain” smell; boy humming while doing dishes; yellow cloud of spring pine pollen
• receiving a beautiful homemade prayer shawl; bees flitting around yellow glowing daffodils; green, green grass
• God’s creativity; gel highlighter (doesn’t dry out!); daughter holding son’s hand in church—sweet
• David Phelps music in a household of sickness; more paid work w/ a message; serenaded by my boy
• another day; paper wad fight; multiple kisses bestowed on my big owie
• Theraflu; safe prairie burn; a boy exploring just for the love of it
• instrumental & vocal HS performers at contest who worked so hard; sweet 90yr old fighting cancer back in church; you

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By His grace ≈

Julie