How can I believe God is good when what He has given me feels so far from good? When I see someone else with something I deeply desire and feel would be good? How can I find peace in these things?
Psalm 34:10 tells us this: “….but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”
Psalm 84:11 says: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
If I believe the Bible is true; I have to believe that these verses are also true. God tells us over and over that He is working on our behalf for OUR GOOD! When we truly let this soak in and believe it to its core, we can dwell in peace. Why? Because we know if we don’t get something we dearly wanted it was FOR OUR GOOD! God didn’t give it to us because it would have been bad for us!
We can dwell in peace when we are going through something heartbreaking since we believe that God has a purpose in it FOR OUR GOOD–even if it feels like the farthest thing possible for our good. Jesus came for the well being of me, and left asking me to be like Him (1 John 2:6), part of that means I need to be willing to trust God is working good from a view I cannot see. Another part means I need to look out for the well being of others. Romans 14:19 says this: “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
Jesus came to save me, to sanctify me, to make me a reflection of Him. When I am a reflection of Him I am a reflection of peace. However, too often I want my way. I think of my two small children when talking about this concept.
If you have kids you know this scene all too well: Your kids are playing nicely, but soon there are angry words coming from the other room. The angry words escalate into screams and after a few screams someone is running to you crying. What is the battle often over? A toy. The house is littered with toys they could have their pick of so many toys. They are rich in toys, but they wanted what their sibling had. The peace in the household is broken over one toy.
How often do I do the same thing in grown up fashion? I want something that seems best for me? Instead of surrendering that desire to God and allowing someone else to have that “toy”, I spiritually try to pry it from their grasp. I think what they have would be good for me too. I want their success, their house, their beautiful hair, their well mannered kids, their romantic husband, their________. I don’t rejoice with them– in the blessings they have been given– but rather fight for my desires to be met.
What would it look like if instead of fighting for something, we surrendered and rejoiced with others? If my daughters decided to find beauty in another toy that they were blessed with, instead of fight over what toy they think is the best, peace would prevail. Because I am in Christ I am richly blessed. Instead of fighting over blessings, I can rejoice with my sisters in Christ–in their blessings. While rejoicing with them, I can step into the blessings Christ has given me personally.
When we surrender to Christ and trust His rich blessings in our own life we can stop fighting over “toys” we think are good and instead run after peace and the well being of each other! When we are secure in knowing that God only gives us what is good, we can lift up gratitude for what He has given us–and others.
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