Feeling good in God’s goodness
Martha Olawale
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Genesis 6:9
In Genesis 1:31, after God created the Heavens and the Earth, the Bible says, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good;” He was pleased. I can only imagine the fuzzy feeling in God’s heart when He saw His goodness on display. He made the birds in the sky and the fishes in the sea and made man rule over everything. He saw the green in the fields, the brightness of the sun, and the shades of blue in the firmament, and He saw that they were all good.
There are two forces at work in the world, whether intended or unintended. Our actions are responses to either. Understanding this helps us navigate our choices better. God will never applaud evil, and the devil will never celebrate good. To honor God, it must look like God and reflect His love, truth, and grace. While there are times when God will caution us to hold off on something we believe to be right, it doesn’t mean He doesn’t support good; it might just not be our assignment or the right time to do it.
Acknowledging the intricacies surrounding doing good, helping, giving, and just showing up, the question is, "Who is this going to make happy, God or the banished guy?" If I can settle that it warms my Father's heart, I'm okay even if I pay for it. It might cause me pain, but at least it made God happy and put a dent in the devil’s ride. Some people's happiness comes from hurting and taking away from others, which does not make God happy. As Christians, deriving joy in walking in love reflects God’s nature embedded in us; joy in God’s goodness is our heritage.
While it's imperative for us always to remember that just because something looks and sounds good does not mean that it is God-approved, it's also important to know that being wrong walking in the love of God is better than being wrong not walking in love. You are permitted to feel good for doing something that honors God because God is the rewarder, and your soul responds to Him.
