“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13 NKJV)
It was morning as I awakened. Fear was grabbing at me. Immediately (not always my first response when in fear) I recited this verse as translated in my well worn RSV Bible. “I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!” Then my recitation became,”I do see the goodness of the Lord in this land where I live.” What a Holy Spirit nudge.
I often turn to this verse when seeking hope. I realized in this experience that I relate that God’s goodness is here with each of us “now”. No matter our circumstances, our pain, our concerns about loved ones in crisis — all of it, God’s goodness never changes. It is not something we will only find in the future as we tough things out in the present. He and his goodness are with us now.
As I write this we are heading into Holy Week. It holds remembrances of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. It ends that same week of Passover with his having gone through his excruciating passion and death on the Cross.
The apostles scattered in fear and disbelief. Where was the goodness? It had been with then all along. Jesus had been with them all along. They came to discover that Jesus was to be with them in deeper ways as they became empowered by God’s own Spirit. They would live fully telling of Jesus’ victorious Resurrection and triumph over death and all fear.
Because of love’s greatest self sacrifice, we also carry his Holy Spirit deep within. When in times of crisis and challenges that overwhelm us, we need not fear but remember that we hold within the One who overcame so that we can turn inward and draw on His strength. We can see the goodness of the Lord in the land where we are living right now.
Prayer: Lord, I rejoice in Your goodness as I turn inward to garner strength to meet the challenges of each day. We dwell together and together we overcome. Amen.
About the Author:
Lynn Severance lives in Lynnwood, Washington. She is a retired elementary classroom teacher. Lynn writes to encourage others as God has encouraged her during 28 years of living with daily physical challenges.
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