"God is good. All the time."
I used to attend a church where the Pastor would encourage the congregation to chant that statement. He would say "God is good" and the crowd would follow with "all the time." Usually the chanting would go back and forth between the pastor and the congregation and would progressively get louder and louder. It was a great way to energize the crowd and encourage audience participation.
It reminded me of a time when I was a high school cheerleader and we would have pep rallies on Friday afternoons before the big games. The purpose of the pep rally was to build team spirit. We wanted to cheer for our team, encourage our team and motivate our classmates to support our team and the big game.
"God is good. All the time" could easily be described as a cheer for God. I'm sure as our pastor would speak this; it was his goal to build up our spirit and to encourage us to put our trust in God. However, one thing I've discovered is -- it's easy to chant "God is good - All the time" when things actually are good.
But what about when they're not? It's not so easy then, is it?
As I've pondered this in light of a great loss in my life… I realized how hard it is for me to say God is good when things in my life are not good. At least I don't think they're good. However, I know it is God's desire to bless each of His children (including me). It's clearly demonstrated throughout the Bible in the lives of so many. But let's take a closer look. For most, it is darkest before the dawn, isn't it?
Think about Naomi in the book of Ruth… she lost her husband, her 2 sons and she was so disappointed and sad she asked to be called "Mara" which means bitter – because that's how she felt. I sure Naomi struggled with saying, "God is good. All the time."
However, Naomi is a perfect example of God's desire to bless. After losing everything she thought mattered… she was blessed with her daughter-in-law Ruth and ultimately a place in the great hall of fame – the lineage of Christ. In the beginning of the story Naomi has lost her hope – but in the end she found a better hope.
God never stops wanting to bless us. He is giving us what He knows is good. Therein lies the dilemma… He is giving us what He knows is good. Unfortunately we have our own ideas about what is good. And we don't always agree with God on this point.
Most of us dream lower dreams and think there are none higher – like having a great marriage, raising talented and bright children, good health, a great job and enough money to live happily ever after. These are all good things. But we fall into the trap of thinking these are the best things. I think God just laughs. He knows better.
The greatest thing is not the blessing of a good life. It never has been and it never will be. The greatest blessing is an encounter with God. But we usually miss it. We mistake lesser things for this greatest pleasure and spend our lives chasing after these hollow and unfulfilling dreams.
If we are not willing to settle for less, God will awaken our appetite for Him and stir that desire within us for more. Often times, He will use the pain of a hope deferred to help us dream a higher dream… the highest dream and discover our desire for Him.
Today I am on this path… and I am hopeful – because I know God knows what is best.