Please Let Me see the Goodness of God: Also in the Land of the Living
The Goodness of God: In the Land of the Living
Genesis:
- Genesis 44:1-34
- Genesis 45:1-28
- Psalm 27:1-14
2 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
- 2 Corinthians 4:1-18
Hebrews
- Hebrews 2:10-18
- Hebrews 3:4-6, 8-15
- Hebrews 4:14-16
- Hebrews 5:8, 15
- Hebrews 6:7-8, 13-20
Hello Family,
It has been quite a ride to get to the point where I can write this post. I have been through many hard things in the past 5 years. Last January, I was led to begin writing about the goodness of God, but stopped while I went through my healing process and God's new direction for my life. I was in the wilderness for many years, as the Lord had saved me from what felt like captivity.
I won't go into depth or detail about what took place, but just know that I needed God's mighty hand to save me. I chose to say yes to Him and, in the process, the move brought many manifestations of evil coming at me to thwart what I chose to allow God to do in my life. I was surrendered to God and waited on His salvation from my plight. God is good and has brought me out of my Egypt. Today, I am beginning to walk into my promised land.
Looking at all that I went through, I can say that God was putting me through a process of being renewed and healed. It took a few years, but He did indeed heal me in many ways. My fears have diminished to the size of a pebble or less.
From the Word, I have learned quite a bit from the journey that Joseph and his dad, Jacob, went through. There were some interesting similarities I can say that I have experienced in my life, where God's goodness and mercy held fast to my life and affected the lives of others with my testimony and God's work in me and through me.
The title suggests what I desired to see during my time in the wilderness. I wanted to see the goodness of God in my life while I am still here breathing. Many times, I cried in prayer to go home early. I believe more people have this prayer from time to time, because life is just plain hard to bear. Going through trials is hard to bear, as is affliction:
2 Corinthians 5:5-9
Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
This song is on as I write this:
From Isaiah 61, how fitting to how God loves us and displays His goodness:
Isaiah 61 - Beauty for Ashes || Bible in Song, Xander Stok, Project of Love
Psalm 4 is another I feel led to share:
Psalm 4 (When I Call) by The Psalms Project [feat. Melissa Breems] (Lyric Video)
Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
He knows that just like Joseph, the furnace of affliction will cast away all of the stains of our shame, guilt, and the like into the fire, making us shine like diamonds on a sunny day.
Just envision yourself being cleansed and purified, and the Holy Spirit of fire reflecting through you perfectly.
Just as a diamond reflects light, not of itself, but the outside source of a bright light that comes through from the other side. The same happens to us over time, purification into a perfect vessel that can spotlessly and perfectly reflect the light of God's love into an ever-darkening world.
We are called to be lights of the world, to reflect the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, in order to bring many to Him and glorify God. Your greatest trial can be used mightily to show God's greatest power and His awesome goodness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Joseph began his life one way, and when his brothers saw him after all of the trials, he was different. According to Genesis 45:3, Joseph's brothers were dismayed. I looked up what "dismayed" would be like. It says that it can mean terrified, shocked, or disheartened. They still believed he was like them. The same brother they mocked and threw into a pit.
It was a mighty shock when their brother cried and called them to himself. The brothers still struggled to believe he was truly changed until there were tests to demonstrate the work God had done in Joseph's life.
For example, when his dad died, the brothers begged him not to kill them. Even with all of the grace and mercy shown in those 17 years, they still only saw what he was before he was sold.
They knew they deserved it, but the gift of mercy and grace had to be accepted, and trust needed to be built. Sometimes our greatest fears, which come from the enemy, come from not accepting that Jesus really did wash away all of your sins. You are as white as snow and beautiful before Father God, because of Jesus' blood. Ephesians 2:8-9
Charity Gayle - Thank You Jesus for the Blood (Live)
How many times have you seen God come in and give you grace and mercy when you were feeling weak about your trial or affliction?
How many times has he picked you up and dusted you off to guide you along His plan? John 15:1-2
Friend, I need you to remember how much our God loves us. He knows what it is like to feel alone and abandoned. He will never leave us nor fail us. I know this personally.
I have handled things wrong because I was weakened by everyday struggles and my fears. Did God leave me when I lost my cool? Never. He is right there waiting for me to come to Him in humility with His arms open wide, ready to give us hugs and kisses. He is truly a good God. Do you believe this is so?
Look back and see how He held you. How He held your hand in that darkness. He never left you. He watched over you. He will be our strength and our comfort, always willing to listen and willing to comfort and provide His peace that surpasses all understanding. It isn't going to be peace like the world offers, but His spiritual peace in the midst of the fiery trial you are experiencing.
Jesus never promised to take us out of all the hard things, but He did promise to help us through them. Perfect diamonds are formed under immense pressure and extreme heat. If you want to be that bright light for Him, be prepared to be put in the pressure cooker.
Paul speaks on this in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
We are a work in progress. God's goodness is the balm of Gilead as we go through our trials. He reminds us of His love and blesses us as we go through this life. It requires us NOT to harden our hearts and claim falsely that God abandoned us. He can't lie (Hebrews 6:17-18, Titus 1:2). He is a faithful Father and Shepherd. He is going to hold your hand through it all, and lead you lie down on peaceful pastures, and lead you to still waters to refresh your soul. You are loved more than you could ever imagine from a Daddy God and a Loving Savior and King, Jesus Christ. God said He would never abandon you by sending His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to dwell in us. It is time for you and I to ensure that we begin listening to Him, trusting Him, and following His lead. He will never lead us astray from His perfect will. Do you believe that?
I do.
If you don't know the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior, it is imperative that you search your heart and see that you need God, our Lord Jesus. He is our only way to see our Father God. To experience the goodness of God in your life, as I described above, to bring hope from the ashes of your life, Jesus offers you the gift of salvation. Take a moment to look at this post to see how you can be saved and given the same hope that Christians around the world are experiencing as they live in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Without Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, there is no hope and only emptiness. It is purely your choice; God will not force you. Will you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today?
The link---> The Purpose of the Ministry
Shane & Shane: In Christ Alone
Yours Forever: Anna Golden
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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