Well, it’s been a few months since my last post. Spring and summer arrived and with the season came some busy days and some lazy days, but sitting down to “blog” just wasn’t on my agenda.
So I’m hoping to keep it brief as I get going again. Actually, I’m continuing my journey to becoming a person of fewer words. I’m pretty much failing so far. That’s not really a put-down of self, it’s the reality of the depths of this problem in my life. But I am not going to give up. With God’s help, I strive to become a person “slow to speak” and full of grace. We shall see …

This morning, though, I’m reflecting on how Jesus responded in Matthew 19 to the man who approached Him with a question. He said to the man, “There is only One who is good” (ESV). I am also thinking of what James said when he reminded us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”  And, of course, there’s the verse most of us who’ve been in church for a while recite with regularity “And we know that for those who love God all things work together<sup class="xref" value="(BA)”> for good, for<sup class="xref" value="(BB)”> those who are called according to His purpose.”
So… there is only One Who is good.
And every good thing we have is from Him.
In fact, all things work together for good to those who are called.

There is much to pray through and meditate on regarding God’s goodness. One way of exhibiting my belief that God’s word is true in this matter is how I trust Him on a daily basis. If there really is only One Who is good. And if that One is the God of the Bible, in Whom I have given my life. And if ALL things in my life work together for my good, as one who is called by God for His purpose…. Well, then what?

My conclusion (as of today only, of course) is that if I believe that my life is in the hands of a good God – the One Who has given me every good thing I have and Who only allows things in my life for my good – then and only then can I live out Paul’s command in Philippians 4 to “not be anxious about anything.”
Instead of rehearsing over and over again, “do not worry, do not worry, do not worry” … I choose to take God at His word and rehearse over and over again “You, God, are good. You, God, are good.”

From that place of belief flows more trust and less worry.

For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. Pm 100:5