I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
- Psalm 27:13
“God is good”, simple truth right?
Well, how about..
When your life is seemingly falling apart?
During a pandemic?
When you lose your job?
When you lose your friends?
When you lose money?
When a loved one dies?
Do you still think that God is good?
I grew up in church, so I'm well aware of the phrase ”God is good”. On Sunday morning it was often echoed with “All the time”. I agree that God is good all the time, however, I wanna take that phrase a little further and say that “God is good.. time after time”. It doesn't matter what's going on in our lives, or what's to come.
Sometimes it may seem like God isn't good because of our circumstances; however, God existed before our circumstances. Therefore, if He was good then, He’s surely good now. Other times it may seem like God’s not good because our perspectives are off. However, with a heart of gratitude, we will recognize God’s goodness in every situation; and see His fingerprints all over our lives. Trust me, the moment that you begin to have a better outlook, the more apparent God’s goodness becomes. Lastly, we may doubt God’s goodness by getting lost in comparison. Sometimes we expect our lives to mirror the "perfect" lives of those around us, or those on social media. Forgetting that God has a unique plan and purpose for each of His children. Although His goodness is constant, the manifestation of it may look different in our lives compared to others, but that's o.k. Because humans weren't intended to have the same story; however, we were all created to witness God's goodness. Not just here on earth, but for all of eternity.
And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.
- Genesis 21:2
Sarah was an old woman who conceived a child in her 90’s. I can only imagine how she felt as a young woman attending the baby showers of her neighbors, relatives, and peers. Being one of the only women in the neighborhood without a child to raise. Well, that’s my modern take on it anyway, her culture didn't quite reflect ours; so there may have been less sensitivity to her situation.
Not having a child may have made Sarah feel ashamed and rejected. She probably asked God many questions, and after decades of remaining motherless, she might've even given up. But at the right time, she conceived. You see, God wasn't putting Sarah on a shelf to collect dust, He didn't desert or abandon her. He just had her miracle set for a later date than she expected.
I feel like many of us can relate to Sarah, I know I can! She spent so many years on the sidelines, waiting for her chance, trying to hold on to God’s promises. I imagine that Sarah cried out to God and wept many tears; had moments of pain, patterns of comparison, and stings of bitterness. Maybe even questioning God’s goodness along the way. Not always realizing that His goodness was apparent even in her times of grief and worry.
And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”
- Genesis 17:15-16
We now know that Sarah is the mother of nations, God used the very womb that was once barren and deserted; to birth more than she could've ever imagined. God already knew Sarah’s legacy before she was even born, therefore whilst she was troubled over her inability to conceive. God was eagerly awaiting the moment when she would realize His great plans for her, and marvel over His faithfulness. This means that if God was deemed good when the long-awaited child was born, then He was good all along.
Even now, in the 21st century, God is good, and He doesn't have to prove it with a miracle. It's so tempting to doubt His goodness, however, we must remember that He is not good because of His actions. His actions are good because He is good, it’s in His nature, it’s who He is. Time after time, God is good, whether you’re waiting for a miracle, or experiencing the joy of a fulfilled promise. So don't compare yourself to others, find yourself hopeless, or get stuck in unbelief. Instead, remember that you are victorious in Christ, God’s goodness is eternal, and you will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.
STAY INSPIRED!
