God extends His unfailing promises of grace, guidance, and goodness toward all those who have put their trust in Him. Even when life feels overwhelming, He remains faithful.
A dear friend often says, “We may not know what God is doing, but we know what He has done.” Since I have been a Christ follower for several decades, I find it easy to look back over the years and be reminded of the many ways His grace, guidance, and goodness have led me. Matt Tommey, an artist mentor, recently reminded me of this truth.
Grace
Woven throughout the pages of Scripture, we find golden threads of God’s grace, guidance, and goodness. The apostle John writes,
“From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.”
John 1:16
The Message Bible says it like this: “We all live off his generous abundance, gift after gift after gift.” While the Amplified Bible expands the meaning for us even more: “For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].”
Clearly there is no shortage of His immense grace for us, especially during our greatest times of need or weakness.
“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.“
2 Corinthians 12:9
Oh, that we may know again, the bridge of God’s grace that enables us to walk in obedience, with peace and purpose.
Guidance
Grace, guidance, and goodness form three strands of strength for every believer. Just as grace comes in many forms, so does God’s guidance.
The greatest source of guidance comes through the written Word of God, the Bible. It would be impossible to count the times when God’s Word directed me through a situation. God often uses His Word to guide us to make wise choices and God-honoring decisions.
There are many ways God speaks to us, however.
- The Bible — “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105
- Spiritual gifts and leaders — “And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:28
- Holy Spirit “nudges” — “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:21
God is not limited in the ways He guides us. He may whisper to our hearts through beauty, nature, or creative expression. Other times, in moments of silence, He fills us with peace and assurance of His Presence. (Or the reverse, when we have strayed off course!) Nonetheless, His guidance forms a suspension bridge of confidence and direction.
Goodness
God’s grace, guidance, and goodness possess the ability to erase the angst and stress life throws our way. Of all these, the goodness of God remains a solid foundation through the ups and downs of life. Often, the Bible refers to God as our good Father.
“On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness …The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”
Psalm 145:5-7,9
The psalmist couldn’t contain his adoration and praise. The goodness of God is overwhelming. Goodness isn’t a quality God possesses; rather, it encompasses His very nature. He invites us to experience His goodness in ever-increasing ways.
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
Psalm 34:8
The Lord is good! Nothing more to be added. Nothing taken away. He is! Neither will anything change His goodness toward those who walk the bridge of trust and hope in Him.
Grace, Guidance, and Goodness
May we consider again the wonderful gifts of God — His grace, guidance, and goodness. May we slow down, allowing His generosity to penetrate our hearts and influence our outlook. Oh, beautiful ones, He lives within us, filling us again and again and again with grace, guidance, and goodness.
No matter how we are feeling or what we face today, His promised grace, guidance, and goodness stand firm.
Let us pray together:
Lord Jesus, loving Father, precious Holy Spirit, we welcome You to fill us afresh.
We receive Your unmerited grace, walking not in our own strength but accepting our imperfections and limitations.
By faith, we trust in Your perfect guidance through the Word of God, wise counsel from trusted spiritual leaders, spiritual gifts, and the promptings of Your Spirit. We seek Your face, as we lean upon Your timeless truths.
Again today, we believe and declare that You, God, are good — that Your goodness never ends and never fails.
Lead us, Lord! Lead us into the depths of Your grace, guidance, and goodness.
Amen
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