In Others’ Words: Seeing God in Everything

Spruce branch with Christmas decorations on a gray background.


I’m going to be honest here for a moment.


Not that I’m not honest with you whenever I write a post, but this is one of those “I’m about to share something I don’t usually tell people” moments.


Have you ever heard someone say: God is good all the time …


And then someone else (maybe you) says: And all the time, God is good!


That little verbal interaction? It makes me cringe.


I’ve seen too many people use it as some sort of virtual blanket, throwing it over another person’s pain or heartache. We smother the reality of how much someone is hurting. Sometimes I feel as if we try to pole vault over the pain and go right to the healing and the hallelujahs. Yes, you’ve just been diagnosed with cancer … but God is good all the time! Yes, your marriage just imploded … but God is good all the time! Yes, your child is a prodigal … but God is good all the time!


And you, in the midst of trying to gather up the shards of your broken heart, are expected to smile and respond: And all the time, God is good!


Yes, I know it’s true that God is good all the time … but let’s be sensitive enough to know that sometimes all that’s needed of us is to acknowledge that someone else is hurting. Let’s be gracious when and how we proclaim God’s goodness, shall we? Because sometimes people who are hurting need our silence and our presence more than they need proclamation and happy faces.


I want to see God in every situation … but I also want to be mindful of how God wants me to be present in every situation. How can I best reflect Him to someone else who is mourning or doubting? Sometimes when Jesus saw others hurting, He wept with them. I want to grow in grace and offer others grace as God would, not toss out an oft-recited phrase that offers someone in need nothing more than empty words and little comfort.


In Your Words: What helps you see God in every situation? 



In Others’ Words: Seeing God in Everything #InOthersWords #faith #grace
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“A state of mind that sees God in everything is evidence of growth in grace … ” #InOthersWords…
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Published on December 16, 2015 23:01
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