Have you ever felt like a dark cloud is hanging over you? I typically walk around with a sunny disposition, but whenever I hear the song, King of My Heart, by John Mark McMillan and Sarah McMillan, I am challenged in my view of God’s goodness. Questions arise in my heart. Do I really believe God is good, all the time? Do I really trust that He will never let me down? Is it God who lets me down or do I allow life’s circumstances to let me down?
Whether the forecast is sunny or cloudy, there are foundational truths that must be settled. Hear the words of the chorus:
You are good, good, oh ….
You’re never gonna let, never gonna let me down
Sometimes unaware, you and I view life through the wrong lens.
Our daughter wears glasses all day, every day. After many adventurous trips this summer, her lenses became scratched and needed replacing. New lenses – with the same prescription – were ordered and set in her frames. She wore them for a few days and endured an awful headache. Desperate for relief, she went back to the optometrist 2 or 3 times for adjustments. Finally, in desperation to find out what was wrong, a technician pulled everything from her chart for examination. It was determined that an old prescription had inadvertently been ordered instead of her current one. She had been looking through the wrong lens, resulting in frustration and pain. As soon as the correct lenses were set in place, clarity returned.
As we mature in the Lord, old ways of looking at things no longer bring clarity. If you find yourself continually frustrated, angry, offended or in pain, maybe it’s time to examine your heart to see what is out of alignment. When we observe life through the lens of God’s truth and love – we are able to see His goodness – even in the midst of circumstances that may let us down.
Moses was invited into a glimpse of God’s goodness (Exodus 33:19). Because His full-on goodness is too much for the naked eye to see, God protected Moses’ eyes from the brightness of His presence, the glory of His goodness. Saul was interrupted on the road to Damascus with the blinding light of God’s presence, which marked him for the rest of his days (Acts 9:3,7).
Recently we experienced a total solar eclipse that people gathered from near and far to observe. Proper viewing glasses were needed for safety, and days and hours before, many were scouring the internet and stores to find a pair. What a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ we observed, as people shared the hard to find eclipse glasses and took turns viewing. Sometimes we need other’s help finding the right lens to see the goodness of the Lord.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
God has called you. IN ALL THINGS, He is working for your good. Let’s settle this in our hearts each day: God is good, all the time.
- People are not good all the time.
- This world is not good all the time.
- Our circumstances are not good all the time.
- Our finances are not good all the time.
- Our health is not good all the time.
- Our experiences are not good all the time.
- Our emotions are not good all the time.
But in the midst of it all, God invites us to partake of His goodness, focusing our eyes on the eternal within the temporal.
Yes, I still have questions and the Lord is patient with my heart. But, I’d rather go through life trusting God’s heart of love and goodness towards me, instead of limping along in a dark cloud that negatively affects my heart, mind, and strength. Just like a total eclipse lasts only 2 – 7 minutes, don’t allow a darkened view of God’s goodness to linger for long.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Isaiah 84:11
