Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24 NKJV.

This morning the sky was a beautiful soft, warm blue and God reminded me He gave us life and shows us what is good. Seeing the roses in the vase so full of petals that before were small buds, hearing birdsong outside, reading Scripture and knowing He is here with me just as He has been throughout all of my life. It’s good and needed to sit in silence and remember and see and know that every good thing comes from our Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit.

David understood. He wrote Psalm 86. He begins with supplication because we all face trials we can’t overcome without Him. Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. v. 1-4. Bring joy for I trust in you…Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead. v. 11-13. How can anyone write such beautiful words and yet, when we turn to our God, when we walk with Him and learn from Him, how can we not feel this great love in the depths of our hearts and souls? How can we not know hope? You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. v. 5-7. That is so personal on a one-on-one heart basis of God and you. And yet, we have the promise that this love so personal will be for all nations. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. v. 8-10. How can that be? We know what the nations were like in David’s time and we know what they are like in our own time. Never discount God. But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. v. 15. Surprisingly, David asks God to give him a sign of His goodness, but not for David who already knows. Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. v. 17.

Signs of God’s love and faithfulness abound everywhere. When we take our blinders off we can see. Each new day emerges and unfolds. Look closely. See the beauty all around us. Do you want to go deeper? Thank our Creator God. Give glory to Him. Ask for His help to be with Him. And then rejoice together with Him because He has given us life and He has shown us what is Good and it is to be with Him. That is our joy!