The news is good, pt. 2

By saying that if I know God, then all the news is good does not deny the existence of my pain, suffering, loneliness, fears, and so forth. I am not viewing the world and my experiences through the lenses of foolish rose-colored glasses that deny the reality of pain and suffering in the world. Nor am I some wide-eyed optimist quoting appropriate scripture inappropriately at inopportune times ("Well you know, God works all things to the good of those who love him!").

By saying that when I know the Lord and walk in His ways then the news is always good, I am saying that my experience with God is better by far than all the pain I have had to endure and all the good things I think I have missed out on in life. I have God, and that is more than enough.

To say that means I am standing on something deeper and more solid than the experiences of this life alone. I am taking hold of a timeless truth and allowing it to shape the way I view this world and all that happens to me. God is good, always acting in my long-term best interests. That truth will never change, so I must live in it and allow God to have His way with me. I have placed my faith in God - in who He is, believing His actions always reflect who He is, and He is good, full of grace, love and mercy (and, by the way, full of justice, truth, holiness, and righteousness, lest we forget).

I never want my wounds, fears, regrets and anxieties to reveal that I have more faith in them than I do in God. If that were the case, could I really say that I have known God?

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