My daughter’s feelings got hurt by one of her friends this past weekend. You know how little girls can be. And everything in me wanted to yank that sweet little friend up and give her a good talkin’ to, all in love of course. Because, you know the drill. You mess with one of my babies, you call out the mama-wild.
But I didn’t do anything or say anything to her little friend — beyond the conversation and finger-pointing I had in my imagination — because I remembered something. I remembered that I’ve been praying for God to make my daughter’s faith her own. That he would teach her what it means to truly depend upon and love him. And if there’s anything he’s taught me, it’s that he’s going to grow her faith through the struggles of this life — just as he grows mine.
It’s one those twisted realities of God. Twisted because it goes against everything we’re prone to naturally believe. Our default is to name something “good” when it’s easy or fun or self-gratifying or pleasurable. But God’s definition of “good” involves our transformation into a holy vessel, which is often a very. painful. process.
This weekend while fleshing out God’s definition of “good”, one of my dear mentors said, “He tells us exactly what he considers ‘good’ in Romans 8:28-29. And it goes completely against our natural inclinations.”
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…
Romans 8:28-29
In God’s economy, “good” is us being conformed into the image of Christ. “Good” is us being set free from sin and bondage and idolatry. “Good” is the artist chiseling the block of marble into a beautiful creation.
Ultimately, I suppose it comes down to faith. It comes down to us believing or not believing that God is always good. Always. That He will faithfully work every single detail in his child’s life together for good — the utmost good. He will faithfully finish what he begins. He will faithfully transform us into holy vessels of love.
Personally, looking back, it didn’t feel good when I’ve walked my hardest days and darkest trials. But I can honestly say that I now know that God absolutely meant my trials and worked my trials together for my good and his glory. He sovereignly used them to set me free from attitudes and sin that stole from the abundance Christ offers. Just as he will allow things into my kids’ lives to conform them into the image of his Son — to make their faith their own.
“Good” doesn’t necessarily mean easy and self-gratifying. But God’s “good” satisfies the soul like nothing this physical world offers. Nothing.
Fill me Lord…
What “good” does God have you walking through these days?
How does looking at life from God’s definition of “good” increase your endurance?
And here’s your friendly reminder to make sure you download my new ebook for FREE this month. Click here to learn more. I pray it blesses.
You write as if my life were yours! How uncanny the similarities! I have also recently been repeating to myself this notion – “God defines good, I don’t.” And my children have also recently been hurt by the unfaithfulness of others, which I believe has been a lesson for them to learn God’s unfailing faithfulness alone. A lesson I couldn’t have manufactured or lectured, but so important for them to understand in these formative years. God has my entire family walking through the “good” lesson of His faithfulness, even when others let us down. This perspective definitely helps my endurance because I can trust His future for me, even when today seems bleak. “You never failed, and You won’t start now…” is a line from Hillsong’s “Oceans” song that keeps echoing through my thoughts. Thank you for writing this, Lara. A sweet confirmation of comfort for my soul’s flailing again today.
“The good lesson of His faithfulness.” I love that. Thank you for sharing your inspiring testimony, Robyn. Blessings to you as you walk out these days, eyes fixed on Him.