We often say, “God is good,” but do we really believe it? Do you struggle to trust his goodness when times are hard? Read on to find encouragement for your faith!
This past week, I’ve been meditating on Psalm 103:2-5, which says:
“Bless the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
I want you to read those verses slowly, really take them in. Read them again if you need to because they are so full of promise and of hope, and I don’t want you to miss the blessing of a God who wants to bless you.
Because he does.
You know that, don’t you?
I think sometimes it’s easy to forget how much he cares. He is so big, and we are so small. The voices in our heads say we don’t matter that much, that in the grand scheme of things we’re pretty insignificant to Him.
But they’re wrong.
So, rather than rehearsing the lies we often tell ourselves, we must rehearse the truth.
Count Your Blessings
Do you remember that old hym that says, “Count your blessings name them one by one, Count your blessings see what God has done”? I think verses like this might have inspired it because when we stop and look at all the ways God has blessed us, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that He is good…even to us.
I received an advanced review copy of More Than Just Making It by Erin Boyd Odom, which begins Chapter 2 with a quote from Shattered Dreams by Larry Crabb about how G0d is always longing to bless us, even in and through our problems.
The things is I wonder if we really believe that.
God Knows Best
While trying to write this post, I’ve been interrupted a few times by one of my kids who is needing some discipline today. She’s fighting hard over having her way right now, and I’m trying to teach her to trust. Because that’s what obedience is really about, isn’t it?
She needs to trust that I know what’s best and that I actually do want the best for her, that I’m not holding out simply because I can or because I want to limit her enjoyment of life. I want her to live a full life, and sometimes not getting her way is the path to what she really wants.
It’s the path to what I really want sometimes, too.
Because God knows best.
And, do you know what?
He always does best, too.
He Gives Good Gifts
These verses from Psalms remind me of that. He meets our needs and satisfies our desires…..with good things.
Jesus himself said, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)
I don’t know your situation today, but I know Him. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
You can trust him today. The question is: will you?
Bible Verses to Help You Believe
I’d like to share some verses that help me trust God when I am tempted to doubt his goodness to me. I hope they’ll encourage you, too!
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye upon you.”
Zephaniah 3:17 – “The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you; he will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Psalm 33:18-19 – “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”
Psalm 34:8 – “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
What about you? Do you have a favorite Bible verse that encourages you to believe that God loves you and has good plans for you? Please leave a comment and share it!
(P.S. I’ll be sharing more about Erin’s new book More Than Just Making It, but I want to be sure you know that if you preorder it before September 5, you will receive 4 free gifts. You can learn about the pre-order bonus here! I’ve only read a few chapters since I recieved the book on Monday, but I can already tell you that it is wonderful, encouraging, and very well-written. More than any other book I’ve read, you can feel the faith behind the finance, hear the heart behind the how-to. I can hardly put it down!)
Please join us for Encouraging Word Wednesday this week by leaving a link or two below and visiting a fellow blogger and leaving an encouraging comment. I can’t wait to read your posts!
My failed hip surgery and dislocation and subsequent months living with a disability that is still inhibiting my life has felt like adversity and struggle, but when I prayed for God to open my eyes to what he was doing – He did. And I’ve seen my marriage grow stronger, I’ve seen us learn to laugh together again. My physical brokenness brought about some real healing in my marriage. It’s been pretty beautiful. I wish we didn’t need to face such adversity to grow, but I don’t know that I’ve ever grown as much through good times.
This is a really good question. We often say He is good but I wonder about our sincerity in saying it.
I was thinking about this earlier in the week (God’s goodness) and was also encouraged by Solid Joys Devotion for July 1, by John Piper, titled “God’s Pleasure to do You Good.” I must need reminded of it frequently in my current season 🙂 A verse that encourages me is 2 Timothy 1:12 “…for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.”