Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ~ Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV
God is good. So very
good. I know people say this all the
time, so much so that it often can become meaningless; just another one of
those ‘lame’ sayings that Christians like to say. Or like to put on T-shirts.
I admit – I have said this “God is good” phrase many times
myself. Spouted it off with everyone else like the (sometimes) obedient little
congregant that I am, when called upon to do so by the pastor, along with the accompanying
response “All the time!”
But today...this very moment...I am saying it and meaning
it. I received something I asked for,
but did not deserve. I am not going to go into detail about what it is and all
that it entails. Because really – that’s
not the point of this post. I do not
wish to brag or boast here, as if I am some favored, golden child of the Lord. Again, I am all too aware that I DO NOT
deserve this provision, this immense kindness from God. I am completely in awe
and greatly humbled that He even allowed this to take place. I know there are
many folks out there who beg God daily to provide for a desperate need, or to
remove a thorn from their side – and they are waiting. And waiting. And wondering while they continue to wait.
Believe me, I KNOW
what that’s like. There are quite a few
things on my ‘list’ that I’ve begged God for over the years -- and I’m still waiting and
wondering.
Today, I found myself yet again in dire need of something.
And even after praying about it, I still found myself sickened with worry and
anxiety over it. Several things occurred in the past few days that actually
made my situation worse, not better, bringing me to that ‘dire’ status today.
What’s so totally weird and off-the-wall is, I KNEW that the
answer was coming. I KNEW the need was
going to be fulfilled. But I also knew
that the timing was off. WAY off. The timing of the answer and the fulfillment wasn’t
aligned with the timing of my need.
But God’s timing is completely different from my timing and
that of the world’s. This afternoon, God
saw fit to turn the tables, so to speak, by shaking a bountiful, extra amount
of grains of sand into my almost empty hourglass. He moved a mountain and
provided for my need in a way I couldn’t have imagined or planned. And I am so very, very grateful.
HALLELUJAH!!
No....I did not deserve it. Not one bit. Not at all.
But God showed me mercy and grace, and saw fit to provide me
with this gift ANYWAY. Despite the fact
that I'm a hot mess. Despite the fact that my central nervous system was
riddled with anxiety and doubts and discouragement and every other kind of
garbage. Despite the fact that I had
accepted that I was going down and would have to face the music and deal with the
consequences some foolish choices I’d made were about to reap.
Because God is good. So very good. His mercies are new EVERY morning, for sure.
He is faithful, even when I – His flawed and fallen child -- am not.
How has God shown YOU His mercy, His grace, His love, His goodness and His faithfulness, dear ones? In what ways has He provided for you in your desperate time of need? Give some thought to that some time today, and give thanks that God IS good. So very good.
How has God shown YOU His mercy, His grace, His love, His goodness and His faithfulness, dear ones? In what ways has He provided for you in your desperate time of need? Give some thought to that some time today, and give thanks that God IS good. So very good.
Thank You, Lord, for hearing my cries and my pleas. And thank
You that, despite the fact I am not perfect, that my prayers are often stilted
and selfish, and I often doubt that You even hear me, You love me still. You
look at me with eyes of mercy and grace; with a heart of compassion and forgiveness and unfailing love,
and You rescue me. You protect me. You
provide for me and my family. May I never, EVER forget what You did for me
today. What You do for me every day. Thank
You, THANK YOU, my Lord, my God, my King. Amen.
Disciples so often get into trouble; still God is there every time. ~ Psalm
34:19, The Message
