God is Good. It's a phrase I say a lot, because I believe it. But How? How is God good?
I got an amazing gift by being "shown" how God is good this past Saturday, and it started with tears on Friday night.
Saturday was scheduled for wr4FREEDOM's Worship benefit & education night. Unlike the actual Walk/Run, there was no way to gauge how many people would be there. It could be a couple hundred... or a couple. We were totally in the dark, and I was scared.
Since it's not about me anyway (not about me in the slightest... it's about the Lord, and those being trafficked) I shouldn't have even worried. But I am human. So I worried.
What if only 15 people show up? My friends will be there as volunteers and band members... they will think I am a failure. They will regret volunteering to help with this if we only have a dozen people! They'll think bad of me... actually, they probably already do. I talked them into this... I annoyed them so much that they said yes... it's all my fault!
Isn't that pathetic?? But when you're tired and it's late and you're battling a moment of intense insecurity and doubt and wondering if a certain guy is ever going to ask you out and you've had a crazy week and you didn't get to exercise that day and you didn't get to have pizza for dinner ...things get blown out of proportion. WAY out of proportion...
...thank You, Jesus, for being such a patient and ever-grace-extending God. Your unconditional love and unending peace give stability to this crazy girl's life!
He began showing me He was good on Saturday morning, during my quiet time. Currently I am reading in Matthew, but by God's grace I ended up in Acts, but the Lord used Acts 4 to speak to my heart, specifically verse 29 "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness."
"Their threats" are the threats of evil. The threat of traffickers. The threat of that little voice of insecurity in your mind.
"Your words" is our theme for WR4Freedom... God's WoFreedom for the captives. Physical rescue, yes, but more importantly, Spiritual Salvation.
"Great Boldness" was definitely something that I needed. Boy, did I!
He continued showing me He was good during Saturday afternoon and evening.
I was asked by the youth band how many people were expected. I rather sheepishly shrugged and explained we had no idea. The vocalists began goofing around, telling me how we were going to pack the house to the point that "We'll have to build a balcony TONIGHT!" and "They'll be standing room only... and people will watch from the bathrooms even! From the stalls!" It made me laugh, and laughing is a great encouragement in any situation.
He continued showing me He is good, and cares about little details in our lives just because He can, when a little comment meant for someone else He allowed me to overhear. A band member said, "Well, it's all for an audience of One anyway!" I was blessed beyond words to hear this, and the Lord made sure I heard it just because He loves me.
He continued showing me He is good by a friend who hugged me over and over and prayed for me. By a text from my youth pastor that came at just the right time to make me smile.
Our God is good.
Because, honestly, our God is so great and awe-inspiring, He doesn't have to care about the little things in life. But He does. He cares for me, and for you.
Ask Him to show you Himself, to reveal Himself to you ... it'll blow you away.