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“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.” Psalms 118:1 (NKJV)

From the day after the twin towers fell, 225 deaths have occurred in the United States from violent extremists and the numbers are growing.  Home-grown extremists, the journals report. Violence fueled by anger, tradition and illness, I suspect.  Likely only to intensify and move closer to our own backyards.  In God we trust, so in the midst of such anxiety, division and destruction, does He care?  Is He good?

We all face events in our lives that cause us to wonder why.  Some reach national media attention while most never leave our hearts.  A loved one opts to take the easy road and terminates a dear friendship.  A child’s heart seems cold and cares little about how actions will affect his future.  A doctor’s diagnosis is imminent and you know your life will take a path not wanted or chosen.  The doom of uncertainty and rejection can invade our lives so that no glimmer of hope, promise or peace can break forth from the darkness of despair.

Theologians are uncertain as to the writer of our key verse today from Psalms 118.  Speculation points towards the penned words of David as he successfully skirted Saul’s pursuit and became King.  Other researchers theorize the writing occurred after the rebuilding of God’s holy temple or perhaps the Israelites return from exile.  Regardless of the origin, the children of God had persevered through the trial, learned to depend on God, to hear His voice and trust in His divine care.  The resulting cry was in the goodness of God and His mercy that lasts forever.

To God I must cling; to His perfect character, to the promises as evidenced in His Word when life’s circumstances seem to overtake all logic.   With Jesus’ death and resurrection, we know how it all will end.  Victory.  All of creation will conclude in unison.  Victory.  God sees the ending from the beginning for the situation with which I struggle today.  Victory.  God’s sole purpose in anything that touches my life is that I might know Him more fully, trust Him completely and surrender to the One who created me, sustains me and loves me.  Nothing that touches my life does so without His approval.  All things are intended to bring me closer to my Father.  And that is good!

“Father, the world brings terror to our doorstep.  May we trust that You are good.  May we see and experience Your mercy.”

For His Glory

Kathryn Hayman
TRBC Women’s Life