Consistent Goodness

Oh, the goodness of God. How I wish words could adequately describe it. But it is just so rich, so beautiful, so consistent that I fear our earthly words could never do it justice. I've never been so sure of something. And I can say this, not because my life has been consistently good, but rather, even when life is not, He has been. I've sung about the goodness of God both through tears of heartache and grief and also through tears of joy and gratitude. No matter my circumstances, that is one thing I am always sure of.

We are used to everything in the world being particulars. Not being able to use universal statements very often. No one is ALWAYS good or ALWAYS joyful or kind. We must use the much more accurate, but less inclusive words like "sometimes" or "most of the time." But when it comes to God, universal statements are a must. He doesn't change, so we can actually say that, yes, He is ALWAYS good. I think it's incredible that while our life constantly shifts. We have really high highs and really low lows. We have the best days and the worst days. We have days where joy comes easily and days where joy is a fight. But through it all, One thing always remains, and it's our Heavenly Father. He truly is good all the time. I've sat with grief and I've sat with joy. I've stood on the mountaintops and sat in the valleys. I've paced the hallways and I've walked through open doors. And I can confidently say, His goodness has always been a silver lining. His goodness is something that I will never get tired of talking about. Because time and time again, I've witnessed it. Every closed door was provision. Every moment of grief, there was comfort. Every success, I knew came from Him. Every failure, I could see lessons. I think what baffles me the most is how consistent His goodness is. Even when it's hard to believe in the moment, the fact that we can say "God is good" maybe not cause you feel it right now, but because you have faith that God is who He says He is. That is the beauty of faith. We can trust in our belief in Him and in His character because He's never failed and never lied. He won't start now. Our lives change every day so when He doesn't, I think it throws us off at times. But let me tell you, there is nothing sweeter than resting in the warmth of HIs goodness, especially in the midst of your darkest days. Again, it's not something we have to see right away to take comfort in. In Romans 8:28, he promises it, "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." There's that universal statement..."in all things..." Even if your circumstances now look impossible for God to be good in, trust Him. He always keeps His word and He works in the business of turning ashes to beauty. Bones to flesh. Graves to gardens. Death to life. When Jesus was crucified, I'm sure the goodness of God was not the first thing on everyone's minds, it took time to see it. Same with Moses and the Israelites, they couldn't see God's goodness and provision even when it was right in front of them (maybe our ungratefulness blinds us from seeing it at times). Or maybe it's going to be a story like a Abraham. He was promised generations more numerous than the stars. Did it happen, yes? Did he see it all unfold? Not on this side of heaven. But His goodness meets us in every season. Mountain high or valley low.

"Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!"

-Psalm 31:19