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Show Me Something Good (II)

I pray this from time to time, when discouragement sets in.

“Please, God, I need to see something good.”

God’s good for me looks differently than what I count good.

I want circumstances changed to my liking. He wants my heart changed to be like Christ.

I want as little pain as possible. He knows the pain will drive me to Him.

I want things sorted so I can continue on my way. He wants road blocks that will turn me to His way.

I want to pursue what I love. He wants me to love to pursue Him.

I think of Joseph, Job, Jonah.

* Joseph – who took every step never doubting God was with him.

* Job – Who when trouble came, started well, had his doubts in the midst of severe trouble, and finally

rejoiced in the God who was there.

* Jonah – who ran away, argued, and disagreed bitterly with God. Did he ever repent? Since only he

could have written the book, I suspect he did, giving his own life as an example of what not to do.

Which pattern will I follow? Joseph, Job or Jonah.

“Help me to see not just something good, but the only thing that is good, You.”

(Remember when Jesus said, No one is good except God alone. Mark 10:18b)

So I shift my prayer from,

“show me see something good”, to…

“Help me to see the God that is hunting me down even when my eyes aren’t fixed on Him.”

Do not fear for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,

and the rivers will not overwhelm you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,

and the flame will not burn you. (Isaiah 43:1b-2)

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I Need to See Something Good

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Show me something good… I need to see something good…

There are times in my life when I am surrounded by trouble. Deep discouragement overwhelms me. I find myself crying out to God…Show me something good…I need to see something good.

God in His mercy shows me good things. Things I have overlooked. Things I can’t see through the clouds that surrounded me. He shows me how He is working, unseen.

Lately I was reading about Thomas. He has gotten the unfortunate nickname of “Doubting Thomas”. (I shudder to think what my nickname would be if I was mentioned in the Bible.)

Thomas had been handpicked by Christ to be one of His disciples. He had spent more than three years walking the countryside, listening to, and working beside Him. He had left all to follow Jesus.

Now Jesus was dead and Thomas had given up hope. They all had. He was so discouraged that when reports started coming in that Jesus was alive, he couldn’t believe it. It was better not to get his hopes up. He didn’t dare believe it was true. It hurt too much.

When his fellow disciples tried to tell him they had seen the Lord he responded with…”Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)

It wasn’t really a prayer, and yet it was. A desperate prayer to a God who had gone missing.

Eight days later when the disciples were together in a “locked” room Jesus suddenly appeared. After greeting them with, “Peace be with you.” He turned His gentle attention to Thomas.

“Reach here your finger, and see My hands, and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (John 20:27)

Thomas’ immediate response was, “My Lord and my God!”

The relief must have been immense. What he didn’t dare hope for was true. His Lord was alive. His God wasn’t missing after all.

What came next must have broken his heart. “Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (John 20:29)

It breaks my heart as well. When I fail to believe because things are dark, when I ask to see good when I am discouraged… God is gracious, but He must long for me to trust Him in the dark. He must long for me to know that He is good even in the midst of trouble.