Seeing God’s Goodness in 2022

Ever had this happen to you?

You’re mindlessly scrolling through Instagram and a pretty picture captures your eye. You glance through the caption and find a verse that stirs up hope in your heart.

The following day you read your Bible and find the same verse nestled in your regular Bible reading plan.

Fast forward a few hours…

You’re listening to a podcast where the host reads out a Psalm which includes (you guessed it…) that verse again!

I like to call those God-incidences!

It makes me feel God’s trying to get my attention… He really wants to tell me something, if only I’m ready to listen.

So, going back to the verse that kept coming back to me… it was Psalm 27:13.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

I always looked up to this verse as a future hope…

“Someday, in some way, I will see the goodness of the Lord in my life.”

“Even if I’m going through a fiery trial right now, I will soon live in God’s goodness.”

But what if I had it all upside down?

What if, I AM living the goodness of God… but I’m just too apathetic to realize it?

There are seasons of my life where I’ve been intentional about counting my blessings and celebrating the little things in life.

But when my world is spinning too fast, and I can barely hold on… I let those habits slide.

When I came across this verse, God reminded me that I am experiencing His goodness in my life… I’ve just been so overwhelmed with daily stressors to notice it.

In the midst of the pandemic and all the grief we’ve been through, it’s tempting to attribute evil to God or harp on His inaction.

Even if we don’t outright say it, we have thoughts such as…

“If God really loved me, He wouldn’t let me go through this.”

“God, there’s so much bad happening in the world today… where are you in all this?”

“If You’re really good and You really care, You’d do something!”

I don’t know about you, but I sure have accused God of not doing what I think is right – for me, for my family, and the world at large.

We might acknowledge that God is not the author of evil, but we still cringe at the thought that He’s allowed us to go through a difficult situation.

If we’re quick to blame God when bad things befall us, why aren’t we equally attributing ALL good things to God as well?

That a meeting went by without a hitch.

That there was enough sunshine on a gloomy day to get a load of laundry done.

That the sickness subsided without a dose of antibiotics.

That the grief of losing a loved one became less painful over time.

That after months of feeling blue, there’s a glimmer of hope.

That through the chronic pain and weakness, His strength is just enough for today.

That in the midst of all the sadness, His comforting grace keeps us going.

Through all the grief and loss of the past few years, it’s been God’s incredible goodness that’s kept us going. And I’m confident we will continue seeing God’s goodness in 2022 as well.

May this be our prayer today:

Lord, I thank You that every good thing in my life is from You. I’m already seeing Your goodness in the land of the living. I’m grateful for the privilege to call You Father.

I know You care for me, even on those bad days when I don’t see you intervening on my behalf.

Thank You for the grace you’ve showered on me, and for helping me seek Your face – on the good days and on the bad.

Help me remember that irrespective of my everchanging moods, I’m always loved by You.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

Photo by pine watt on Unsplash