Lord, You are So Good

Wow. He really is good, isn't He? Sometimes I struggle to believe and know God's goodness. Life has been a little crazy (okay, maybe more than a little) in the past several weeks as I have been reading a bunch, working part time as a research and administrative assistant, attending amazing classes, and learning a ton. In the midst of feeling overwhelmed by it all, I am filled with a deep sense of peace that I am right where I need to be. 


This past weekend I attended the seminary women's retreat in Alton Bay, New Hampshire which is absolutely beautiful at this time of year (like most of New England is). The theme of the messages for the weekend was "Life in the Desert." The Lord really used our speaker, Sue, to speak to our hearts. Something I have sensed Him teaching me/reminding me of in the past month or so is that in His goodness and love towards me, He wants to bless me. At times I have difficulty receiving the blessings He wants to give me. I tend to immediately think, "Oh, that must not be the Lord's will" if something seems to make me feel really happy. Strange, huh? I was describing this to a friend last week and said, "Know what I mean?" She said, "Umm, no...I don't!" She said that she tends to think to the other extreme that what makes her happy must be God's will. But then there are a couple of other friends I have shared that with who totally understand where I'm coming from...interesting how our perceptions of who God is differ. 


Anyway, along with much discussion about suffering, one of the Scripture passages Sue read was Song of Songs 2:10-12:


"My love calls to me: Arise, my darling. Come away, my beautiful one. For now the winter is past; the rain has ended and gone away. The blossoms appear in the countryside; the time of singing has come..." (Holman Christian Standard Version)


Yes, I realize that winter is about to begin here in New England...however, when thinking about winter as a metaphor for the season of life I have been in these past couple of years, it is as if the Lord is saying to me, " It is okay to come out of the winter now...the rains are over and gone. It is now the time to sing."


Why has the "winter" become so comfortable to me? Why am I so afraid to follow my Lord out of the winter? Why am I afraid of singing again? I am not sure of all the reasons why I have a tendency to fear or to resist the blessings my Heavenly Father longs to pour out on me, His daughter. I do know, however, that I desire to overcome that fear and to fully receive all He is bringing me into! 


One of the songs we sang on the retreat was a hymn with the simple title Isaiah 43. Some of the lyrics (and the Scripture passage) are: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine...Do not be afraid, for I am with you..."


A couple of other Scriptures pointing to the love of our God for us and His desire to give good gifts:


Zephaniah 3:17- "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."


Matthew 7:11- "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" 


I pray that you and I will step into the blessings God has for us in the "season of singing" when it comes.