God Is Good All The Time

God Is Good All The Time

May all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!” Psalm 70:4

When I read today’s verse, I smiled as I thought about the psalmist and his friends jumping up and down, shouting, “God is great!”

God is great. But there are times in our lives when the last thing we feel like doing is shouting for joy. When Ray entered my office, I could see he was having one of those days.

“Tell me what’s going on,” I said.

“After losing my son, I feel as if I’ve lost my joy. There’s nothing in the world that makes me happy anymore. It’s like I’m seeing the world in black and white. People irritate me, and the family members that I can stand to be around tell me I should seek help. That’s why I’m here.”

“I know it hurts to lose a son.”

Ray began to cry. “Nothing hurts worse.”

As we talked, I explained to Ray what was happening to him. “When we’re under a lot of stress like you’ve been, it’s as if the chemicals in our brains get used up by the stress. Without those chemicals, we perceive the world differently. These are the same substances that help us with our sleep, appetite, and memory.”

“I haven’t slept well since he died,” Ray said. “My diet has gone down the tubes, and I can’t even remember what I had for breakfast.”

We talked about some solutions and eventually agreed that he should start on a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor to help restore the chemicals in his brain.

“But there’s something else that can help you even more than the medicine,” I said.

“What’s that?”

“From experience, I know we have two choices during times of great grief. We can run from God, as I did when I was a young man, or we can run to him. He’s waiting for us with open and loving arms. Because I waited so long to run back to God, I can say without a doubt that running to him is a whole lot better than running away.”

TODAY’S RX

If your perspective is out of balance because of grief or suffering, search the Psalms to shine the light of truth into your heart.

Lord, thank you for this reminder that you are good all the time. I may not feel joy in all seasons, but I know you’re beside me even in my despair. Thank you for speaking words of affirmation and love to me through your Word.