By Rebecca Holloway
Just a quick thought for you today…
The word “good” came up four times in my quiet time today.
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)
[B]eing confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness. (Psalm 107:8-9, NKJV)
While doing a quick word study on “good” in those New Testament verses, it occurred to me that our definition of “good” and God’s definition are two different things. Our version tends to be that everything is going to work out to make us the happiest and most blessed possible. It’s all going to the turn out the way we want.
But here’s the thing: the way we want it to turn out may not be God’s best for us. Because God, in His very nature, is good. We are sinful beings. There is no one righteous. (Romans 3:10) We have all sinned and fallen short of His glory. (Romans 3:23) Our good is as filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6) We are not good. He alone is good! But if we are in Christ, He has made us right before God.
So when you think God is not answering your prayers for your good, or that situation that is supposed to work out for good doesn’t look so good right now, know that your good God is working good even when you can’t see it. It just may not look like the good you were expecting. One day you will look back and say, “Wow. That really was for my good.” And you will give thanks to Him for His goodness.
This editorial first appeared on Rebecca Holloway’s blog. She is a speaker and wife of Stewart Holloway, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Pineville.
