Where Do You See God’s Goodness?

“Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe! But he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you.”

– C.S. Lewis, from The Chronicles of Narnia

“Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe! But he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you.” – C.S. Lewis, from The Chronicles of Narnia Click To Tweet

Joy fills some days. Other days feel okay. However, there are those that weigh heavy with a melancholy or angst that won’t lift. During those latter times, taking note of God’s goodness can go far in dispersing a measure of the dreariness.

It’s kind of aggravating because I never know when one of those desperate days will pop up. Circumstances can set me up for one, but sometimes the trigger remains elusive. Thankfully, I have identified one thing that helps: reminding myself of the good God I serve.

God’s Goodness Is Revealed

God doesn’t hide His goodness. It’s revealed in many obvious ways:

A sunrise or sunset.

The hoot of an owl in the late afternoon.

A person’s smile or a kind word.

The moon and stars.

A clear blue sky or one with wispy clouds dancing across it.

Shelter.

Abundant clothes and food for most of us.

The variety of color that greets our eyes each day.

Family to share our lives with.

Changeless Character Remembered

Everywhere we look, God’s goodness gazes back. But therein lies the problem. We become oblivious to that which we see everyday. In the busy of our day and in the routine of it as well, we need to remind ourselves that His goodness follows us.

Everywhere we look, God's goodness gazes back. But we become oblivious to that which we see everyday. In the busy of our day and in the routine of it as well, we need to remind ourselves that His goodness follows us. Click To Tweet

Even more important, God’s goodness never changes. It doesn’t lessen because the Lord’s character is immutable (changeless); it doesn’t increase because He’s already imparted it all. He hasn’t held anything back.

God's goodness never changes. It doesn't lessen because the Lord's character is immutable (changeless); it doesn't increase because He's already imparted it all. He hasn't held anything back. Click To Tweet

His goodness is fixed and certain. It permeates all of our days on earth. It will saturate us in Heaven.

So why the melancholy? Why the angst? Because we were created with emotions. And because Satan works in our thoughts and feelings to convince us of the unfairness of life and that God is absent or, at the least, disinterested in us. And at times, Satan nearly succeeds.

The Truth

That’s one reason it’s important we’re open to the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. That’s critical in fact.

But to lessen the number of times and the duration in which we feel uneasy or down, it’s also helpful to repeatedly remind ourselves of the truth.

The truth is God loves us.

He is good (always).

And He reveals that goodness throughout each day.

We all feel melancholy or anxious at times, but we can lessen how often and how long we experience those feelings by reminding ourselves of the truth. The truth is God loves us, He is good (always), and He reveals that goodness throughout each day. Click To Tweet

But it’s up to us to notice that goodness. To speak truth to ourselves. To replace negative thoughts with positive ones, and to more often have the attitude of the Apostle Paul:

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. ¹² I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot.^(C In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.

Philippians 4:11b-12

That’s what I’m looking for. A contentment that fills my days and overflows into my nights. A contentment that can only come from knowing that One far greater than I is in control, and He’s controlling things for my good.

No Excuses

So I count gifts. Daily I intentionally — left to chance I’d be too tired or too distracted — look for evidence of God’s goodness and write three things down. Writing them down holds me accountable.

Recording evidence of God's goodness moves us closer to a contentment that fills our days and overflows into our nights. A contentment that only comes from knowing that One far greater than we are is in control, and He's controlling things for our good. Click To Tweet

One day this week I wrote this:
Today’s gifts: *The quiet of the funeral home after hours makes for a nice place to get a few personal things done on my computer; *A nice man at the gas station must have known I was in a hurry; he came over to inform me that the gas pump I was going to use was pumping really slow – the new one I went to worked great, so I made it to church on time; *Drive time with my son = time to talk #1000gifts

Some days I record very simple things:
Today’s gifts: *Was running behind but still able to get in my prayer time this morning; *Received a freshly baked Macadamia nut cookie just at the right time today; *There wasn’t any flooding on the roads I took to get home from work tonight #1000gifts

I don’t let myself off the hook, or I wouldn’t get back on. Some days I don’t feel like remembering. Tough! Some days there seems little to note. A lie! Every day holds gifts aplenty, signs of God’s goodness in abundance. And everyday, He is worthy for me to give Him praise by noting them.

A Little More Contentment

It still frustrates me how easy it is for my feelings to dip. After all, I am the most blessed. But reminding myself of God’s goodness in the form of daily counting gifts helps me put my day in perspective and gain a little more contentment. I’ll take that, thank you! And then, of course, there’s grace for the rest.

Today, where do you see God’s goodness? Let’s encourage each other in the comments by sharing what we’ve noticed. One of mine? Having the ability and technology to share my thoughts with you!

By His grace ≈

Julie