What is really good

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. (Psalm 73:28)

There are many things I regard as good:

My hopes for my nieces

Peace in my family

Sparkley flip-flops

Evenly spaced out deadlines at work

Starbucks Iced Coffee

Marriage and family

Singing with the Worship Team at church

E-mail

You get the idea...

When I think about life, mine or anyone else's, at any given moment, my mind is filled with thoughts of what I think would be good...even best...for them/me both presently and in the future. But, as vivid as my imagination is, the Bible says that "no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him."

Those who wait for Him.

Anyone who has read this blog, even casually, over the past few months will know that waiting on God has been the consistent theme. Right now, in all the things that are most important to me, I am being made to wait...to trust...to hope not in circumstances but in God.

I could fix my mind and set my hands to go after the many good things I want for myself and for those I love...it is what feels natural to do. But that is not what is spiritual to do. That is not the way to see God act on behalf of me and those dear to me. Had the Israelites not waited on God when they were stuck before the Egyptians and the Red Sea...they might have missed out on the parting of the waters. The same is true for us today. If we are too busy making things happen for ourselves, we likely miss opportunities for God to act on our behalf. In effect, we settle for what we deem good in exchange for what is ultimately best.

For me, right now, God's best involves waiting and all the feelings of denial and delay and disappointment that come along with it. That doesn't really make any sense...but I believe it is truth. Through this waiting, the Lord is showing me that not even the best things I can think of and hope for and make happen for myself are better than this one thing: His nearness.

As I wait, He meets with me. He comforts me. He sustains me. He brings me joy. He is the refuge I run to when all around me is crumbling or confusing. He is my El Shaddai...my mighty God - the God who is enough.

I could demand my "rights"...demand those things I feel He has liberally given to others and denied me, but this is not the life of faith. Oswald Chambers says, "if you are living the life of faith, you will exercise your right to waive your rights and let God make your choice for you...this is the discipline God uses to transform the natural into the spiritual through obedience to His voice...The greatest enemy ot the life of faith in God is not sin, but good choices which are not quite good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best."

Lord, help me always to forsake the good when you call me to wait for the best. You alone are good. You alone are enough. I have no one or nothing else in Heaven besides you. Your nearness, especially in the midst of barreness, has been my greatest good!