Earlier this year, I made a list.
I made a list of people I’m thankful for. I would list them all out, but there would be far too many to require any of you to read. But, you should know that if you’re reading this, you’re probably on it. The Lord is so good to me. He has blessed me in countless ways, but as my junior year of college comes to an end, I’m convinced He has blessed me the most in friendship.
This year has been insane. chaotic. tragic. lost. fun. joyful. drenched in learning. unforgettable.
Basically, it’s been an emotional roller coaster.
But there has been a constant and His name is Jesus. He is constant even when... scratch that, especially when I’m not. And let me tell ya, constant is not a word you could have used to describe me this year.
Here’s the thing though: there’s a lot of beauty in that. It’s not something to be ashamed of. There were a lot of unexpected things that happened this year and there were times when I didn’t respond like I should have. Shoot, there were times that I didn’t respond like I wanted to respond. Here’s what that taught me... I don’t have it all together. I don’t have life figured out. I can’t cruise through with nothing but myself to lean on. But luckily there isn’t just something else to lean on, there is someone else to lean on.
If we are faithless, He remains faithful
2 Timothy 2:13
The beauty in my inconsistency is that it made me dependent.
I can’t trust myself to react the way I should or even the way I want when life throws curveballs. I can’t trust myself to choose obedience. I can’t trust myself to choose His way. And that rocks. Why? Because I have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside doing it for me. And when I choose not to listen to that, the Lord has surrounded me with countless people who know when I’m not responding to His guidance. That’s accountability. That’s friendship. Friendship doesn’t just point you the right way, it points you to the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
And that’s just really stinking cool.
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22
Ok... so that was absolutely not what I was going to write this blog about. That was really just a lot of word vomit about what's been on heart lately, I guess. It’s like I’m thankful for the crazy people that got me through this year or something... weird.
So, now to what I was going to write about: a lesson about God’s goodness
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
I needed a lesson on my perception of God’s goodness. Luckily, I serve a good God who wants to teach me things. So, He did. And here it is:
God is not more good or less good to me depending on the circumstances in my life or in anyone else’s. I so easily get wrapped up in the idea that God is so good to ___ right now because of what He’s up to.
And then sneaky Satan comes in and is all “Oh my gosh Brette, you need to get it together because they are doing this whole Christian thing so much better than you.”
Woah. Hold up. Red flag.
If that doesn’t scream that I am trying to earn favor with God, I’m not sure what does. Because this is what I know is true of God:
God shows His love for us in this- while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us
Romans 5:8
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Christ Jesus our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17
I didn’t earn this salvation thing. There is nothing that I did, nor will I ever do, that will make God giving me the gift of salvation understandable or make sense. He did it because He is good and He loves me. And what else? He stinking gives me good gifts because His goodness and character don’t change like shadows. Man, I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that God is nothing like me because I change my mind all the time.
And all of this leads me to believe that God is no less good to me based on what I do, what I don’t do, what my circumstances are, what He’s doing in the lives of those around me, or what Satan tries to tell me.
God is no less good to me because of how much time I spend with Him. He is no less good to me because of how many verses I memorize. He is no less good to me because of the worship songs I listen to. He is no less good to me because of how many pages of prayer I’ve journaled recently.
As my friend Hannah says, He is good all the time and all the time He is good because that’s His nature.
Doing those things- spending time in the presence of my Savior, reading his Word, listening to music that leads me to the throne room of Heaven- increases my perception of His goodness and they are good things but they don’t make Him love me more.
I do those things because I am grateful for what He has done. I do them because I enjoy time with Him. I do them because I want to know Him more.
I don’t do them because it brings me blessing. I don’t do them because it makes Him more good to me.
He is good to me all the time regardless of how I spend my time.
And that is good.
Jesus, may the gospel continue to free me from cheap grace which ignores your law and from graceless legalism which ignores Your Son. I want to continue growing in the obedience of faith and love until the Day when Jesus, who has perfectly fulfilled the law for me, perfectly fulfills the law in me. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus holy and loving name.
Scotty Smith
As a PS can I just mention that I am so excited for the goodness of our God in blessing my beautiful, precious, wonderful, wise, charming, funny, sweet, loving friend Taylor with such a great fiancé?
I can't wait to watch you two glorify the Lord with your marriage.
Wow, marriage. You guys rock and He sure is good.
