Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Quick question for you. Is there anything more valuable in a relationship than trust and consistency? I think most people will probably say no. Whether it's a marriage or a business to consumer relationship, your favorite restaurant, it's probably the fact that you trust what you're going to get and you consistently get that same thing that keeps you going back.
Today we're going to read Psalm chapter 116, verse 5, and it says, How kind the Lord is, how good He is so merciful, this God of ours. And that's exactly what the writer is talking about, is the fact that he trusts the Lord and he knows consistently what he's going to get. This whole chapter is reflecting on the good nature of God.
God Never Changes
I think sometimes we can overcomplicate God's nature and it makes it hard for us to see Him as we're going through different situations in life. I know I've been guilty of that myself. This also reminds me of James chapter 1, verse 17, it says, Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God, our Father, who created all the lights in heaven. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
There it is, right there. He never changes. And everything that's good comes from Him. Think of it like this. You think about a tree. You know exactly what you're going to get when you're looking at a tree, right? You're going to get oxygen. You know that tree has roots that are dug really deep. That tree's not going to get up and move ten meters over to the left. That's not a part of the tree's nature, nor is the tree ever going to change into a lion or develop characteristics of a lion.
I know this probably sounds like what are you talking about, but that's not something we would ever expect. Yet, oftentimes we treat God as if He changes on us.
When Life Doesn't Feel Like God's Goodness
Now, the hard part about this is when our lives and the situations that we're in don't really feel like they reflect the kindness and the mercy and the goodness that's talked about in verse 5 here. So what do you do about that? It's a really valid question.
I remember a time not that long ago, I was driving down the road and I was going through something really difficult, and I remember being honest with God and saying, I don't really feel Your presence right now. I don't know where You are. I don't know how I'm supposed to see this situation. I'm not feeling You.
I'm someone who loves to sing. So just kind of drifting in thought, I ended up humming and singing, and it turned into me just practicing. Ended up with me worshiping. And at the end of it, I didn't hear anything audible. But I felt this impression in my heart of God saying, see, it's as easy as you singing. His goodness was attached to my worship. I got to experience it in that way.
Remembering What We Know About Him
So going back to that question of when life doesn't feel like He's kind and like He's merciful, what do we do? I think we're supposed to shift our focus and remember what we already know about Him. There's so many Scriptures in the Bible that are telling us to remember the things of the Lord. Remember all the ways He's been good to us.
You know, sometimes the blessing is in the fact that you're still here another day. Sometimes you have to search for God's kindness through your weeping. I recently spoke with a friend of mine, and she was telling me that she feels God's been redeeming some of the broken memories that she has, showing her where He's been the entire time. Maybe that's something that He's wanted to give you today as well.
My prayer for you today is that you would be able to sit in the good nature of God - His kindness, His mercy, His love, His comfort, all the things I felt when I was singing that song. I believe He has that for you too.
