The Gift of One DaySample

The Gift of God’s Goodness

You can probably recall a number of big moments that have contributed to the overall character of your relationships. In reflect­ing on some of the most important people in your life, perhaps you could point to a few major events that have helped create the shared lore of those relationships. 

But those moments are the exceptions. They’re not really what fosters the tenderness or strength of your personal bond. Relational trust is built not on the basis of two or three unforgettable days but on those hundreds and thousands of ordinary days when you have demonstrated love and care for each other. It turns out that the little things are the big things. 

Think of the person you trust most in this world. Based on all your hundreds or thousands of interactions with this individual, if you found yourself facing a significant challenge, how quickly would you turn to him or her for help? How confidently would you reach out? And how would you expect him or her to respond to you? With coldness and indiffer­ence? Or with focused love and attention? With goodness? 

When someone has been faithful over and over again, you don’t need that person to part the Jordan River to convince you that you can trust him or her. You already know it. You already believe in that person’s goodness. You’ve been keeping tabs on forgettable things that by their sheer quantity are able to far outweigh even the unforgettable things. 

Our relationships with the Lord are the same. The everyday mo­ments, the easy-to-overlook moments, are actually what cement our rela­tionships with God. If you’re up against something hard or worrisome today and you don’t know whether God is good enough to want to hear you or answer you or care about what you’re enduring and needing, find some paper and catalogue a few fresh reminders of God’s goodness that have been escaping your notice and that might just redeem your trust in His love for you. Each of us is desperate for God’s goodness. We completely de­pend on Him not only for His presence but also for confidence in His good intentions.

I am never not amazed at how good our God is. Every little thing is a miracle. Every single day. And so is this day that is waiting in front of me now. You and I are surrounded by God’s goodness, whether we know it or not. Joshua 4:21-23

Have you experienced any positive character changes that came out of hard seasons or situations? Using a journal or loose paper, write down what you know about the goodness of God.