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“For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:5 (ESV)

It was a season of loss….yes, one of those times when good seemed to evade me.  One by one the tally on good appeared to fade.  The year was 2010. The economy took a drastic dive, and we went right along with it.  Financial losses heaped upon us to the point of losing our beautiful home.  One we had spent lots of time, energy and thought into making it our perfect place.  Yet in the Spring of 2010, we packed it all up, moved into our tiny rental and cowered at the thought of anyone knowing our loss.

My consolation in those days was the reality of a beach home we owned with a friend.  Anyone who knows me knows I absolutely adore the beach.  So from May to September, I clung to the possibility of one day retiring in that home – it was my sustaining joy during a tough season. Yet Hurricane Irene struck the Outer Banks with a vengeance and within the early days of September, our beach home crumbled into the ocean.

Where does one find good in the midst of such loss?  What does one do when all they’ve dreamed of evaporates?  Perhaps you have found yourself in that place as well. Moments when the goodness of God appears to have vanished.  Moments when questions loom large and disappointments color our days. Seasons of devastation that leave us crumbled up in a heap on the floor. Raw souls desperately attempting to find good when circumstances speak otherwise.

Keeping it real here, those first few weeks after transitioning from our large dream home to a small rental was difficult.  Good wasn’t on my lips.  Frustration, sadness and grief plagued my days.  How could God allow this to happen? We’d opened our doors to those who needed a place to stay; we’d held our home loosely in our hands.  Hospitality was our joy and pleasure to use what God had given us to serve others, and the reality staring me in the face birthed a wrestling in my soul. Would I believe the goodness of God was still surrounding us?

Day by day, I reminded myself of God’s past goodness and faithfulness.  His track record was beyond my comprehension, yet it was still foreshadowed by current losses. As I intentionally rehearsed and wrote down His goodness, I began to see how He had provided for our every need in His timing and in His way.  Sometimes through a friend, often through a stranger.  God’s hand had not been removed; He was ever-present in the midst of our untraveled paths, and His goodness was still active even if I couldn’t see it.

Sweet friends if you find yourself in the place of wondering wrestle well.  Don’t give up or allow the enemy of your soul to convince you God isn’t good and loving.  His character is perfect, unchanging and consistent.  Quickly silence the voice of the enemy by reminding yourself and others that God is still good.  Ask God to give you a renewed perspective of His good and hold on tight to the One whose love, faithfulness and goodness endures forever. Draw strength from God’s word and praise Him for the good He will birth through those difficult seasons.  Pour out the cries of your heart and watch in amazement as He pulls you close erasing the doubts.

“Father, how blessed I am to rest in the assurance of Your divine goodness. To journey through this life and experience Your abiding presence even in seasons of doubt.  To cherish Your promises and welcome the good You will use to glorify Your name.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life