Life can be full of anxiety and fear if we didn’t believe in the goodness of God! When we realize that He is good, it keeps us calm and secure in the midst of an uncertain world.
The goodness of God is part of His nature. He is always good. Out of His goodness He created Man in His own image. Starting in Genesis, God was after a relationship with man. He didn’t have to create us in His image except that He desired a fellowship with His people. No other creation can commune with God like human beings can. Do we see God as good?
When God created the heavens and the earth, He called them good. He organized everything, so we can live, grow, and mature in good conditions. He set up the right atmosphere, so we can breathe the right kind of air. He put the sun at just the right distance from the earth. He set the thermostat at the right temperature, so we won’t freeze to death or burn from too much heat. He gave us the provision of fresh water and food at all times. Then He created Adam & Eve. God in His goodness created and produced man and called him very good. He was pleased with his creation especially the humanity.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 11:29
Many have been raised in strict families where God is seen as an angry God who is running quality control on every moment of our lives. He looks like a drill Sargent who expects the best and tolerates the least amount of weakness or shortcoming. He is perceived as someone who pushes people towards performance and exhaustion. The scriptures such as the one above have a different story for us. If we desire to know who God is, we must look at the entirety of the scripture and pray to get to know His heart.
We see God’s goodness in the way He has wired people. The same God who created us for relationship and fellowship put a desire in our hearts to have children. When people decide to have children, they don’t think about how enjoyable it would be to rule and tell somebody younger what to do. They don’t ponder how they will get to discipline their children or put them on time-out. That is far from any parent’s mind.
The thoughts of a new parent generally center around the beauty and the pleasure of a new relationship with their precious child. A new parent is pondering: What will the baby look like? What will their personality be like? How can I bond with my new baby? What will be God’s purpose for his/her future? How can I be a great parent for this child? If those are our thoughts towards our children, then how much greater and deeper are God’s thoughts towards us!
How we view God will set the tone for the level of peace and joy we experience on a regular basis. How do you view God? Ask the Lord to reveal your thoughts about Him.
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