Parenting a tiny human is a learning process.
Our daughter is just over a year old now, and while we understand the general logistics about how to keep her alive (eat food, change diapers, don’t chew on electrical cords, etc) it seems like everyday there are new discoveries and questions that we must answer about our parenting “tactics.”
Like how to teach her table manners. (Eventually.) Or how to keep her from exploring her new chompers by taking a chunk out of my arm. And even the little things about how we speak to her and vocabulary that we use.
There are a few things that I want my daughter to hear as she grows and a lot of principles that we hope to raise her around.
One of my big ones that has been on my heart lately is the use of the word “bad.”
In my heart of hearts, I know this child, and EVERY child, is not “bad.” Naughty sometimes, absolutely, but not bad. They might make poor decisions, but the roots and character of any child is not bad.
So I pray that we can be intentional that as our daughter grows she always knows that she is loved and good… even if her decisions or behavior might be naughty.
My same thoughts kind of apply to God, only at a higher degree.
See, God is the exception to this idea. Not only is He never naughty or does He ever make poor choices, he is also never bad.
In fact, God is good. Very, very, good.
And that is today’s truth as we study the character and attributes of God during this Lenten season.
God is Good
All. The. Time.
Now, I have met people with the school of thought that don’t quite agree with this point… However, it goes back to the comparison with our children. Even though the things in life might seem hard and not-so-good, Our God of the Universe IS Good, all the time.
This also reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 where it says “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Take a look at that scripture again. Seems almost impossible, right? Like in those really-un-goodly moments when the car won’t start, the kids are fighting, or you just heard about the death of a dear friend… How are we supposed to give thanks and rejoice?
Notice that tiny word in. Give thanks IN all circumstance, not FOR. Seems minuscule, but it has huge ramifications. Because God is so good, we always, always have something to be thankful for… Even when our world seems to be falling apart.
I don’t know about you, dear friends, but I am so thankful to worship a good God… One that has only the best in mind for us, even if it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to our earthly brains. We can rest on His promise that He is good and trust our circumstances to this good (and even great!) God of ours.
Think to yourself for a few moments about where you see God’s goodness, be it in the great or not-so-great moments of life. How does this truth encourage you? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Friends, I could write so much more on this truth about God’s goodness… Really, I could go on for days. But for now, let’s cling to this solid promise that no matter what, God is God.
And God is Good.
Drinking in God’s Goodness,
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” ~Psalm 34:8 NIV
Linking up today with Jen at Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood, Hazel via Tell Me a Story and Jennifer Dukes Lee over at #TellHisStory. Be sure to join our #EverydayJesus link-up community right here at 7 Days Time every Thursday!
