Is God Really Good?

Is God Really Good?

Some ask how God is good when things are bad.

When the pain is so deep and the emptiness so great, words meant to comfort are hollow.

Your heart is so wounded, so empty, there is nowhere for the words to settle.

We want to be left alone in our pain. We want to submit to its power and let it sweep us away because it’s better than trying to live.

Still, the Bible says God is good.

Will you see it?

God made us able to endure suffering. You may not feel it right away, but it will come at the right time.

No matter who you are, where you come from, what you believe – it doesn’t matter. We are all given the ability to choose.

Some call it the human spirit. Some call it faith. Either way, it is God who gives us courage, strength, endurance and joy – yes, even joy – hidden deeply within every one of us. We only find it when we are faced with needing it.

There will come a moment when you feel it. An unfamiliar sensation coaxing you up out the pit of darkness and despair.  And you will push it aside because you don’t want it.

But God is patient.

You say, “But she has always been optimistic and good-natured. It’s easier for her”.

While it’s true we might think some have an advantage, we are all at the same starting point when it comes to pain. Even the most pessimistic or distrustful among us can be encouraged and inspired when we see someone overcoming pain. You don’t try to copy or pretend what you are not. You choose to believe somewhere inside, you have what they have. It might look different, but it’s there.

Because God is good.

And that is the starting point for the healing of your heart. Saying it, accepting it, and believing it for the truth it is.

You don’t have to work at it. God does the rest.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

– The Bible

greyscale photography of woman wearing long sleeved top
Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com

 

 

winter beauty.

winter beauty.

The fierce, bitter winds of winter howl throughout the night, painting a glistening, white canvas with invisible brush strokes.

Despite it’s threatening presence …

morning reveals a masterpiece.

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Sometimes our lives are threatened with storms, leaving us feeling empty and cold.

Yet, there is beauty to be found when healing scatters its warmth upon our heartache.

Is there always beauty to be found after raw pain?

Or is it that we never noticed it before?

Both.

survival.

survival.

I visited the World Trade Center Memorial this past weekend. After the attack on 9-11, a severely damaged tree was found under the rubble.

ground zero

Against all odds, it survived.

Replanted to another location, it was nurtured to health, and brought back to the World Trade Center Memorial.

It is known as the survival tree.

On Saturday, new buds of hope and healing.

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If a tree can survive, can’t you?

~~~

photo credit:

New York City Parks & Recreation

Kathleen Moulton

 

singing.

singing.

I was thinking about a word for “s” and the word “sing” just kept coming to mind. Have you thought about singing? I have. Just how someone, somewhere, discovered singing.

Singing is good. It is strangely healing for the soul. Sometimes, the simplest thing can have great power. Don’t underestimate the power of singing!

Whenever I feel afraid, I hold my head erect
And whistle a happy tune so no one will suspect I’m afraid.

While shivering in my shoes, I try to tell each toe
To whistle a happy tune and no one ever knows I’m afraid.

The result of this deception is very strange to tell,
For when I fool the people I fear, I fool myself as well.

I whistle a happy tune, and every single time,
The happiness in the tune convinces me that I’m not afraid.

Make believe you’re brave, that’s the trick to take you far,
You may as brave as you make believe you are

You may as brave as you make believe you are.
The result of this deception is very strange to tell,

For when I fool the people I fear, I fool myself as well.
I whistle a happy tune, and every single time,

The happiness in the tune convinces me that I’m not afraid.
Make believe you’re brave, that’s the trick to take you far,
You may as brave as you make believe you are!

healing.

healing.

Our bodies have an amazing ability to heal. Sometimes it needs help with medication, but what a marvelous process to watch how new skin replaces a cut finger, or how a broken bone mends and become usable again.

Broken hearts are real and not always seen by others. That’s what makes it more difficult.

Their insults have broken my heart and I am so sick.  I looked for sympathy, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. Psalm 69:20

God has not given our physical bodies a way to heal and not our emotions. Talk to God about what hurts. He will not only comfort you, but he will heal your broken heart in time.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3