Good & Bad Times
Good times! They are wonderful, aren’t they? Good times can be a meal together with family and friends. Good times can be peace and relaxation. Simple times and simple things can be good times. Good times can also be set aside for the larger ones – a wedding, a baptism, new additions to the family, new job opportunities. Good times feel as if we are sitting on top of the world. Even in the simplest moments of good times, we can sit back and feel blessed. Hopefully, we spend a few minutes thanking the Almighty One who provided those good moments for us, our Dear Lord. I cannot always say that God is the first one I turn to during those good times. My thoughts may be more like, “Look at this great meal I made for my family” versus thanking God for bringing us all together. I may say, “Look how hard I’ve worked for this new position in my career” versus thanking God for bringing the opportunity to me. May we remember to turn our thoughts and hearts to our Lord during blessed times. He truly does provide for us.
Bad times? They are a bit more difficult to swallow. Life is going along, and then tough times happen – maybe they are disagreements among family members. Maybe peace has been replaced with chaos. Maybe the tough times are larger such as health concerns, loss of job, or loss of loved ones. I do not know about you, but God seems to get my attention a lot quicker during tough times than good times. I may cry out, “Lord, why are you letting this happen?” or “Lord, do I deserve this bad thing to be happening to me?” I quickly turn to God and am more apt to ask those questions. It is time to turn to the facts.
God wants our attention – ALL OF THE TIME.
God wants us to give him glory when things are going well, the good times. On those days when life seems to be wonderful and blessed, we need to turn our thoughts and hearts to the only One who provides all of that for us, God. It is He who gives us all that we need. Our future is in His hands.
Dear friend, remember this also, God is there for us during tough times. He wants us to come to him for guidance and comfort during the bad times. We do not have the control of this life that we think we do. God is fully in control. He is the one that can provide us insight and hope. He is the one that can provide us courage to see another day. During tough times, we may be apt to say, “Why did God let that happen?” We truly may never know the answer to that question. It is not ours to know that answer. Trust that our Lord and Savior knows the answer, and whatever the answer, it is the right one.
We do not know the future. The only One who truly knows the future is God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise – EVERY day, the good days, and the not so good days. It is right to go to Him in EVERY circumstance, the blessing, and the sorrow. It is right to call upon Him with your heart and let him hear your praise and your agony. He wants you to yield to Him. He knows our future – we do not. Let us have simple faith to know that the plan He has for us is right and good.
Heavenly Father, thank you for providing good and bad times. May we always go to you in every situation, knowing that you know our future and what is best for us. May our faith be bold to accept all you bring our way. In your loving name we pray. Amen!