Goodness

Goodness…what is that really? Merriam-Websters’s dictionary says “the state or quality of being good”. The Webster’s 1828 dictionary includes words like “favor shown”, “compassion”, “mercy”. These days it can be a struggle to find good things to say to others or good things to talk about. I know people who have had some things happen that aren’t good. It’s hard to stay focused on “good” when all you see is not good. And what do you say to them as friends or colleagues? “Everything’s going to be fine? Don’t worry… this will pass.” Nice words but probably not what they want to hear. That’s where you have to turn off your brain to logic and turn on your brain to faith.

That’s where goodness jumps in the picture. A well-known example of this in the Bible is the children of Israel wandering through the desert. It started with God showing his goodness (favor) to them by having Pharaoh allow them to leave the slavery they were in during their time in Egypt. It continued with them being saved from the army when crossing the Red Sea. Then in the desert, He provided food for them when there seemed to be none. Next came the grumbling, complaining, and doubt about entering the promised land. God could have halted everything there and left them to create their new home in the desert. Instead, progress was delayed. He did postpone their entering the final destination by allowing them to wander in the desert for 40 years. However, it was only postponed. He continued to show them goodness (compassion, mercy) while in the desert because they had food and things they needed in order to live. The promised land was the main event of goodness, but the provisions in the desert were another type of display of goodness. Without the provisions in the desert, the Israelites would not have survived to make it to the promised land. Surviving was good. We will also survive our trials through God’s goodness (compassion, mercy). Staying faithful and focusing on God during the trial will lead us into thriving in His goodness (favor) when the trial season ends.

Don’t give up in the midst of your trial. Take time each day to focus on at least one good thing, even if it seems small. You want to survive so you can thrive!