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Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:8 ESV

She stands and shares how her faithful God has answered her prayers with “yes” and life is great and God is good. People smile and encourage her.

I sit in silence, aware that my prayers were not answered with the “yes” I desired, my life is not the “great” I dreamed it would be; but my God is still faithful and good.

Bless it. My mind can’t help but wonder what her picture perfect life must be like. If I think back, I realize I used to be her. Shame on me, I sin in my frustration over her “easy life”. I confess my jealousy to God.

Widowhood is ugly.

God is beauty.

The longing for our departed is overwhelming.

God is un-overwhelm-able.

When you have been traumatized by medical treatments and procedures yet still know the comfort of God in the midst of endless hospital stays;

when you have experienced loss and truly felt the peace that passes all understanding;

when you have stood flanked by your children, with your arms lifted high in praise, singing “Blessed Be the Name” at your husband’s service, then you know the extent of full surrender.

You will know the goodness of your Lord on a whole new level when you have crawled through the darkest of valleys and thrilled at the tiniest sliver of His light reaching through the darkness to you.

You will comprehend a love so deep, a faith so intense, a truth so piercing.

The goodness of the Lord is not dependent on how He answers my prayers or if my life is going the way I want it to. The goodness of the Lord is just that: HIS GOODNESS. It does not waiver.

On my good days, God is good. On my bad days, God is good. He just is.

Widowhood is lonely.

God is ever-present.

Our shattered pieces seem irreparable.

God is a God of redemption and restoration.

I know a depth of my God’s character that I didn’t know before this journey. He has revealed facets of Himself that I cannot begin to put into words. His presence has carried me through horrendous events and His goodness has been constant.

Lord, I marvel at You. Eternity is not enough time to explore Your goodness. Thank You for revealing more of Yourself to us in the depths of despair. Amen.

~Lori

God is good. Is that difficult to say? We hope that this series from our team has helped guide you through Scripture to a better grasp of this idea. Here is the eighth in our series. Read the previous posts here: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten.