God is still good in spite of His provision

Sometimes, out of nowhere, it feels like you’ve been hit by a semi.

If we are consistent in our belief that God is good “all the time,” then we give thanks in those dark moments (or dark seasons). We believe that God will be glorified through our time of loss. And even if it takes a while, we can ultimately join Job in his new perspective of God, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and you instruct me. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:2-6

As we are invited by the Apostle Paul to join in the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings, we should be able to reach a place where we look at adversity as an opportunity, an invitation to be further refined into the reflection of the character of Jesus Christ. And, for those of us in the West, those moments of suffering may look embarrassingly trite when compared to the torture and martyrdom of Christians around the world. So, while we don’t look forward to them, we relish them for what they are when they do present themselves.

So God is good in the midst of suffering.

Here’s the follow-up. After my recent break-in and theft of my laptop, many people came together and pooled resources to buy me a new laptop. They presented me with this amazing gift, and it was very overwhelming. It ministered to me so deeply that people could be so generous and kind to me.

And God is still good.

It is tempting to look at the whole situation and say how rotten the circumstance was, and how good God was to provide for my needs after the fact. And, not to take away anything from the dear people that came out of the woodwork to participate in blessing me, I want to be able to emphasize the latter as being WAY better than the first part of this experience. Yet, God was good, all the time. He was good in the bad and He was good in the good. His nature is not affected by circumstance. It is only my perspective of Him that changes.

So, to the thief, thank you for creating a moment for me to grow in my faith. I hope that you will someday come to find new life in Jesus. To my friends, thank you for your amazing act in replacing my laptop. Great is your reward in heaven for multiplying the investment He has entrusted to you. And to my Father in Heaven, thank you for this “good and perfect gift.”

“Abba,” I am Yours.