Followed by Goodness and Mercy
Uncertainty about what this day holds. Concerned about what the doctor’s report will be. Dismayed about life savings placed in an investment that continues to spiral. Anxious about the cost of living. Worried about the children’s friendships.
As much as we know better than to succumb to worry, fear, and anxiety, there are still times when the natural thing to do is ponder the “issues”! Let’s determine right here and now to NOT be natural. Let’s be super-natural because we serve a super abundant, super powerful, super miraculous and mighty God.
God’s goodness and mercy are with us every day. We are HIs sheep, following our Good Shepherd and He is out in front of us with His rod and staff. And at the back of the flock are a couple of sheepdogs — goodness and mercy — nipping at our heels, making sure we don’t run off into a ravine. Those two sheepdogs keep us on track as we follow our Good Shepherd.
There isn’t a second passed in our lives when God isn’t watching us. He is always paying attention to us, because He created us to love us. He knows the highs and lows, the good and the bad, the ups and the downs. God knows every detail of our lives.
Psalm 145:20 says, “The Lord watches over all who love Him.” Not only does He watch over us, He also protects us. And, I love that He has SUPER messengers to give Him a hand in that “protection” arena. Psalm 91:11 says: “For He will command His angels to guard you in all your ways.”
God’s protection doesn’t mean that only good things will happen to us. Stuff like disappointment will still come our way. We can count on it. BUT, God!!! He will surely ENSURE (best insurance EVER) that good will come out of everything that happens to us — whether or not we’re able to see in this lifetime how He has been working.
God’s grace is working in us. The Bible says in Isaiah 60:10, “I will have mercy on you through My grace.”
Grace is when God gives us what we don’t deserve. Mercy is when God DOESN’T give us what we DO deserve. For all the ways we’ve failed and made mistakes, we deserve punishment. Yet God pardons us and forgives us through Christ. THAT is MERCY!
It is God’s nature to be merciful. He loves to show His mercy. He doesn’t get tired or frustrated about it. He never says: “You’re on your own!” He is with us every moment of every day.
No one knows what is going to happen next week, much less next year or in the next 10 years. But when we face the future, we can know this: God will fill our lives to overflowing and His goodness and mercy will be with us. There is no need to worry or fret. God’s got this. God got us!