The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:5.

I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand and I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope…You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:8-9, 11. 

This has been a difficult year for so many of us and it’s hard not to see the bad everywhere. Look for the good anyway! As I was getting out of bed this morning, God reminded me of blessings. Just that word. Blessings. Don’t forget to count them and see the hope in them. This world is filled with rebellion and idolatry. Does that sound odd? Really? I think that’s why I feel so bruised. We can’t see the very things that harm us for what they are. How do we look past all the bad? Is it important to do that? Maybe reading a psalm showing us a better way will help give us a hopeful perspective. Hopeful not because of us – but hopeful because of God and His will for us that is so good. Psalm 15. Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken. 

Our prayer for hope for all is a hope rooted in God’s love. His desire is for our good. So why is there so much that is bad in this world? Because we each of us have a choice. Choose our Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit – and our life with Him showing us the truth of His love and care…or not. I can’t control the choices of others. That is idolatry. I can’t continue to hate people who do great harm. That is rebellion. I can trust God. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31. Can we begin to see the blessings in what Jesus taught? I can’t change the world. I can’t make all of the rebellion and idolatry, all of the bad, go away. Almighty Creator God will. Not by force. That’s our way. God accomplishes His good by teaching us as our hearts and minds are open to His truth and His love. And when our hearts are opened in our great need for His good – amazing things happen for us and for others. God’s love spreading in our hearts and overflowing to others. His love. Trust Him. He knows the way and it is so good.