As we begin a new month and embrace the challenges it holds, I think it’s important to pause and remember that God is good, gracious, and compassionate. Although it seems too simple to comprehend at times, this is the truth upon which we can anchor our lives. As Christians, we have a tendency to view the Lord through the lens of our experiences or to judge Him according to what’s happening in the world around us. However, the good news is that He is not defined by our past, by what we think, by how we feel, or by the view we hold of Him. Instead, our Heavenly Father is defined by His Word alone, and He is always who He says He is! While this may be difficult to grasp if we’ve endured a great deal of pain and suffering at the hands of others, the immense kindness of Jesus never changes. Regardless of how much we’ve been through, when we open our hearts to Him and encounter His presence, we learn that He is undeniably gracious. Though our experiences vary, His absolute goodness does not. In fact, while we see through a glass dimly and are easily distracted by the chaos of the world, His steadfast character provides a fresh infusion of hope. Although we can’t completely escape the sin that taints our vision on this side of Heaven, when we focus daily on who God is, our souls can settle in His mercy and His abundant life can spring forth in us as a result! 

My friend, your experiences and circumstances will shift, but the Lord’s loving-kindness towards you will never cease. He is undeniably good, and He delights in taking care of you and blessing you. He is your ultimate provider and your great physician, and like a father, He wants to give you good gifts. His perfection isn’t predicated on what He does — faithfulness and uprightness are who He is! You can trust the fullness of His nature when things around you are uncertain and put your faith in His character, even when it seems that the world is in decline. Regardless of how you feel, you can live each day expecting to see His goodness and glory and hope fully in the fact that nothing can taint the essence of His being!