See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19.

How can we know the goodness that is God? We trust Him for all things. 

I love in this chapter, Psalm 27, that David knows and shares with us that Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit – fills a place no one else can. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me, v. 10. Who has forsaken you? Who has not been faithful? A better question is Who has always been there with you though you were at times oblivious? The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? v. 1. Today we are afraid of many things that do great harm; we know the dangers that are there. When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. v. 2, 3. How can that be? Because the Lord is my light and my salvation, the stronghold of my life. I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. v. 13, 14. 

Yesterday in church we were told that we are God’s friend. Jesus told His disciples right before they left the upper room before his arrest that no longer did He call them His servants but rather they were His friends because He had shared with them everything the Father had told Him…John 15:14-16…that we are His friends if we do what He commanded; and what did Jesus command us? My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Love. The foundation of friendship. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Jesus did that. For us. He led the way. 

Can we see the new way that God is leading us? Like streams in a desert, Love that is life-affirming and life-giving. He is our friend and how we need this friend! All of creation needs Him. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple…at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord…Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. v. 4, 6, 11, 13. This world we live in may be in opposition to God and in a mess, but we will see the goodness of the Lord here…in the land of the living. Count it all joy when you love, when you receive love, when you see the beauty of creation surrounding you…when you ask and He turns to you in great abiding Love. The Light of His Love blots out the darkness and we can know His peace surrounding us. Do you need a Friend? I love my children and grandchildren and family and friends dearly but my love cannot compare to God’s love for them, for me, for you. We are His and He is ours. Always.