Had he lived, my brother Mark would have celebrated his 59th birthday today. But, sadly, he did not.
Today’s reflections speak hope to my heart for the days when the sorrow of loss and loneliness hits harder…
Hope is being convinced that you are surrounded and pursued by the GOODNESS of GOD.
That He works all things for good in the end, so if its not good its not the end.
And that there is no story of tragedy or grief where He won’t have the last word.
"The one who trusts in the Lord, goodness will surround him." ~Psalm 32:10b
Goodness, mercy, lovingkindness, faithful love, loyal love, steadfast love, abiding love, constant love, unfailing love, gracious love - surrounding and encompassing the one who trusts in God.
Translators of this particular Bible verse have so many different takes on this beautiful Hebrew word “chesed” - because it is such an all-encompassing, long and wide and high and deep word for God’s long and wide and high and deep love for and goodness towards us.
According to the epistle of the apostle Paul to the Ephesians, the knowledge of this ”chesed” love of Christ in our lives grounds us and roots us, strengthens us, and fills us with all the fullness of God. Because it is a good love, a merciful love, a kind love, a faithful and loyal and steadfast and abiding and constant and unfailing love, a gracious love.
Who does not want such goodness, such amazing “chesed” love from above, surrounding their lives?
"Truly, goodness and gracious love will pursue me all the days of my life…" ~Psalm 23:6a
Here, the Hebrew words “tov” - and again, “chesed”. God’s “tov” meaning goodness - and God’s “chesed” love pursuing and following and running after us all the days of our lives.
Who does not want this? Who does not need God’s goodness and gracious love always pursueing them?
"We know that for those who love God all things work together for good…" ~Romans 8:28
Yes, in the end all will be well and good for those of us who follow and love God. So, if things are not well and good yet, if life is still hard and bad and sad, then it is not the end yet: God is still working in and through all those hard and bad and sad things, so that in the end they will be good in our lives.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." ~Jeremiah 29:11
Because He always, always, has the last word. No story of tragedy or grief is bigger and stronger than He is to redeem it and restore it - and make something new and beautiful out of it. His plans for our lives stand firm - and they are plans for our well-being, for a good and hopeful future for us.
So… is my hope - is your hope - rooted and grounded in these convictions? That we are surrounded and pursued every moment of every day by the “tov” goodness and the “chesed” love of God? That, in the end, in the final day - God’s Word and God’s goodness will be victorious over all?
May it be so.
