God is Always Good and I Am Always Loved

Chapter 5 asks and then answers some hard questions. Voskamp has put into words what I have wondered so many times. Often when something goes the way a person wants they might quip, "God is good." I have often thought in response to myself, "Would they still say that if things hadn't gone the way they wanted? Would I?" If I truly believe God is good all the time...how will I respond when the hard things of life happen? What I know is that they will happen. "Should I not accept good from You, and not trouble?"(Job 2:10)

So many people become disillusioned with God when things don't go the way they hoped or imagined. My mom is mad at God and has been for as long as I can remember because her life has been filled with trouble. I'm not saying her life hasn't been filled with hard things. She has had some very difficult, heart breaking experiences that are seemingly impossible to resolve within oneself. But, if God is good then there has to be a way to embrace the trouble He allows. The only way it would seem possible is to believe with all our hearts that God will bring beauty from ashes...light from darkness. According to Voskamp, God desires to "transfigure all". "Christ became ugly that we might become beautiful. Can I believe the gospel that God is patiently transfiguring all the notes of my life into the song of His Son?"

Abba, Daddy,
This is the prayer of my heart...that I would always believe that You are always good and I am always loved. That is the place I want to live. The place where all is grace. Where nothing is taken for granted. The place where both joy and sadness are received from Your hand. Where I am at peace in the moment, so connected to You that like Job I am willing to accept good and trouble. Counting it all grace.
Yours,