Blessed Assurance

There is a famous hymn called ‘Blessed Assurance,’ written by Fanny Crosby. You may have heard it yourself. This moving hymn captures the message David conveys in this Psalm. Crosby writes, ‘Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. O what a foretaste of glory divine.’ She goes on to sing ‘I in my Saviour am happy and blessed,’ concluding that verse by singing ‘Filled with his goodness, lost in His love.’ The chorus’s words then declare, ‘This is my story, this is my song.’ Though Crosby didn’t write ‘Blessed Assurance’ is inspired by this verse, the hymn is a helpful reminder that God’s goodness is assured to us each day. God’s goodness is not just a distant act, but it is a part of our everyday lives and our everyday story. To be God’s children is to be filled with his goodness and grace – it’s who we are.

The conclusion of David’s prayer in this verse is a celebration of God’s goodness. As well as being rescued from God, David looks forward to a bright future as he is promised rest from God and a lasting heritage (1 Samuel 16:13 and 2 Samuel 7:11). God’s goodness flows out of his grace and flows out in abundance for David. God is the creator and Lord of the universe, and his grace for us too is great-  so great that it provides for all our needs. But God’s grace doesn’t just stop with us. 

Because of God’s grace, we will have all that we need, in all things and all times, to abound in good works. It is a grace that enables us to do good works and practice goodness in our lives to others, as God’s grace flows abundantly through us and then manifests in goodness in our lives – both internally and externally. Perhaps this week, consider how you can let the grace of God flow out as goodness in your life. Could you show God’s goodness in your workplace, or school, or the home? Wherever it is, know that God’s grace is flowing abundantly in you. There will never be a shortage of grace to stop the presence of God’s goodness in our lives and the lives of those around us. Goodness: This is our story, this is our song.