Short and Sweet Sunday

I woke up this morning - well, I wasn't even fully awake - and these words were in my head and in my heart.

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13

The words trickled along, my mind sleepily turning them over one by one, and I noticed I knew them.

I knew the verse, and I knew its truth.

I've stood on the brink of despair and remembered His goodness. I have been able to turn my back on confusion and hopelessness and choose trust because He is good. And I can say I know it because I have seen it. I don't have blind faith, I've seen His goodness over and over again.

How many times have you and I seen His goodness in our lives, even in what appear to be small ways? An uncountable number. And yet we still at times stand on the brink, seeing despair as our only option.

I would say I've learned to turn my back on that despair through trial and error, meaning I've yielded to despair way too many times before I found the courage to dig up memories of the Lord's goodness and choose to believe I'd see it again. Faith is not easy.

But so worth it. You have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living too, so next time you face that precipice, pull out those memories with all you have. Use them like weapons, and ask God to show you His goodness again. It may not be in the way you'd prefer, but He will, I have no doubt.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

We've all seen His goodness. The trick is remembering it when it counts most.