In the garden, the first temptation was really an attack on the character of God that He was not good, by not allowing them to take from one tree. The serpent did not point out how GOOD God was by allowing them to take from every other tree, he focused in on the one thing they did not have, implying God was not good!! The evil one often throws such thoughts of evil at us, seeking to plant an accusation against the character of God…seeking to slander Him to us…he would seek to implant a thought…to have us think about what we do not have, that somehow God is holding out on us and the implication He is not good. The onslaught often begins with a subtle wicked, evil thought of “look what you do not have,” seeking to create discontentment, and it is then we must chastise ourselves and speak to ourselves and remind ourselves of all we do have “in Christ.” Who we have, where we are going, and even as the Psalmist, it is not merely the future but considering the GOODNESS of the Lord to us now and Believing by faith that He who has been GOOD to us for “But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone….”-{Mark10:18}; “…the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4, NKJV). “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!“-{Matt 7:11}; “… Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,…”-{Read James 1:17}; GOD IS GOOD… He is LORD, Sovereign King, Unchanging in His being, His very essence is Goodness. “But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me; I have made the Lord God my refuge, So that I may tell of all Your works.”-{Psalm 73:28}; “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.”-{Psalm 107:1} ” You are good and You do good; Teach me Your statutes.”-{Psalm 119:68}.

And the Psalmist speaks to himself and us in Psalm 27:13, that he has realized in the midst of great affliction, opposition, troubles, and the tendency to look at life and be overcome by troubles he realizes there is an alternative and it is GOD HIMSELF. Who He is and What He says in His Word to us and for us! He says he would have despaired, lost heart and what was it that kept him? He says “Unless.” “Unless” what? Here is his “BUT GOD…” moment, here is his intervention where he places the focus on his mind between him and his troubles that could sink him into despair, namely “…UNLESS I HAD BELIEVED THAT I WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING.” -{Psalm 27:13}

His troubles didn’t automatically go away because he shifted his focus and trained his thinking on the goodness of the LORD.

And this is often where we make a mistake, in thinking that, If I just focus my thinking on God’s Goodness then He will make all my problems go away” as if it is some “magic formula!”

Read again Psalm 27 and note the words for troubles, enemies, and such are mentioned. The LORD would meet him IN His troubles not necessarily DELIVER him FROM his troubles. and what was used to meet him? When he THOUGHT of what was TRUE of the Character of God and namely, His GOODNESS! And this was his confidence as it is to be yours and mine!

Life does not always go the way we thought, or hoped for, indeed there can be some great sorrows, loss, pain, troubles, hurt, and fractured relationships this side of Heaven but with Paul we can by faith says in the midst of the troubles, heartache, difficulties, sorrow, and pain, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”-{Rom 8:28-30} ,

And this is one reason for us to frequent ourselves with Him, His Word so in these times of difficulties and temptations we may look to Him…in HOPE…CONFIDENT WE WILL SEE AND EXPERIENCE… THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD! ” AGAIN! “…I will See…”

“I WOULD HAVE DESPAIRED UNLESS I HAD BELIEVED THAT I WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING.”- {PSALM 27:13}

He provides the way of escape. Not necessarily from his troubles but in his troubles,

He was not kept from troubles but in his troubles, the LORD’S Goodness would be revealed to him!

He can focus on and believe to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! And the key is that little word “UNLESS…” and had placed his faith not in himself but in the LORD who is Good. And even in the Psalmist’s troubles-{Psalm 27}, he could look beyond them To Him. And as Joseph wh suffered greatly said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”-{Genesi 50:20}. God was in control and all along had a purpose and He would not only deliver Joseph but raise him up to put him in a place to be a blessing to others!

Evil does not ultimately triumph. Trials are temporal though they last a lifetime yet not eternally! Even in our troubles, we can look to Him and by faith focus on Him His character, His Sovereignty in our situation and over our situation, and can confidently say based on His character, His promises…

“I HAD BELIEVED THAT I WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD…” What are You “Believing To See?”

Recently one of my grandsons came to my open bedroom door and laying on the floor with only his head peeking around said “goodbye” near the end of the day to see me before he left to go home. I called him in to give him a hug and as he ran towards me I looked at his face and he seemed a little downcast.

I noticed he was a little sad as he embraced me. I asked him if he was a little sad, and he replied he was and told me why. I told him sometimes I too get sad, but I reminded him to think about the GOOD things that had happened to him earlier that day and I began to name some. All of a sudden from laying on my shoulder he lifted his head away and stood straight with a BIG SMILE. What had happened? He RECALLED to his MIND the GOOD THINGS… so you and I can learn, at times we too may be sad but we must trust the LORD to train our minds to REMEMBER the GOODNESS of the LORD to us. This we do as we RENEW our Minds with His Word, to THINK Right about Him as fuel for us to TRUST Him in the present difficulties. Nehemiah in the midst of conflict told the people “REMEMBER THE LORD who is Great and Awesome…”-{Nehemiah 4:14}. Paul told young Timothy “REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST RAISED FROM THE DEAD…” -{2 Timothy 2:8}

So often we can remember what we should forget and we forget what we should remember namely the LORD and His Goodness. Sometimes we just need to REMIND one another…. and this we can do and lift the downcast of heart as they recall- God’s good dealings with and to them!

So like the Psalmist in the midst of sadness, and troubles, must REMEMBER… and

“BELIEVE TO SEE” The GOODNESS OF THE LORD in the land of the Living!

God Bless,

Aidan.