I have often said things like, "The Lord has been good..." or "The Lord was faithful..." regarding various circumstances of life. Perhaps you have said something along those lines as well lifting up one of God's attributes. You may have said, even in response to a question, "God sure has been good lately."
This is probably not a big deal, but we would do well to think such comments through. We might say that the Lord was faithful in getting us from one place to another or for getting us through a particular trial, and it's as if He could be otherwise. Are we also implying then that if we had not made it from one place to another or that if God, as far as we can tell, did not get us through a particular trial that in that situation He was not good - that He was not faithful. We must understand and embrace the fact that God is what He is always and at all times and in all situations. God is good regardless of your situation or circumstances. God is faithful. God is merciful. The list goes on, and none of His attributes or characteristics are on trial.
The problem is that we are such self centered creatures that we have a tendency to see God and often filter Him through the lens of our own personal experience. James 1:1-4 becomes very helpful in this light. We know that when things are good we are to count it all joy, but this passage says that we are to count it all joy when we fall into various trials as well (I'm not quoting). Why would we do this? Often this is the time to question God's goodness. The reason joy is because it is through trials that our faith is tested and patience or endurance is built up in us. Again it is during this time that our nature inclines us to resist what God is doing. We either walk away blaming God for the "bad" that we are experiencing, or we take matters into our own hands. Instead, though, James says not to resist. Rather we are to let patience have her perfect work. Why? That we may be perfect (complete or entire), wanting nothing.
The fact is that God is always good, and the reason not all experiences are pleasant is because God wants us to know what real peace and contentment are like. This comes when we choose to trust God, that His goodness and His Godness (to try to be concise) are constant - when He becomes enough. I'm out of time and so this may seem fragmented, but hopefully this will be a helpful thought nonetheless.
This is probably not a big deal, but we would do well to think such comments through. We might say that the Lord was faithful in getting us from one place to another or for getting us through a particular trial, and it's as if He could be otherwise. Are we also implying then that if we had not made it from one place to another or that if God, as far as we can tell, did not get us through a particular trial that in that situation He was not good - that He was not faithful. We must understand and embrace the fact that God is what He is always and at all times and in all situations. God is good regardless of your situation or circumstances. God is faithful. God is merciful. The list goes on, and none of His attributes or characteristics are on trial.
The problem is that we are such self centered creatures that we have a tendency to see God and often filter Him through the lens of our own personal experience. James 1:1-4 becomes very helpful in this light. We know that when things are good we are to count it all joy, but this passage says that we are to count it all joy when we fall into various trials as well (I'm not quoting). Why would we do this? Often this is the time to question God's goodness. The reason joy is because it is through trials that our faith is tested and patience or endurance is built up in us. Again it is during this time that our nature inclines us to resist what God is doing. We either walk away blaming God for the "bad" that we are experiencing, or we take matters into our own hands. Instead, though, James says not to resist. Rather we are to let patience have her perfect work. Why? That we may be perfect (complete or entire), wanting nothing.
The fact is that God is always good, and the reason not all experiences are pleasant is because God wants us to know what real peace and contentment are like. This comes when we choose to trust God, that His goodness and His Godness (to try to be concise) are constant - when He becomes enough. I'm out of time and so this may seem fragmented, but hopefully this will be a helpful thought nonetheless.
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