God’s goodness is something I need to intentionally notice. It is something I need frequent reminders of. When I intentionally notice His present goodness it speaks life into my heart and soul.
Friends, let’s remember this together. God’s goodness is constant even when, even if, even though and even through…all of life’s challenges.
The problem is, we can’t always see God’s goodness. Yet, it is there.
Our eyes are often clouded. We are prone to see more of our selves than of Him. At least, it’s true for me.
Because I’m challenged in the way I see things. I need eyes of faith; eyes that see beyond the clouds to His glory. How about you?
Today, my faith is encouraged through the story of someone I don’t yet know. She is a young widow and mother of five young children because her husband, my cousin’s son, died suddenly a few weeks ago. As a result, this brave young mother and her children have no home and no income. But they have faith.
Recently she shared a status update that charged my heart with emotion. Her oldest was getting baptized and the youngest had learned to laugh. She also proclaimed, “God is good. No matter what.”
In the midst of even though.
Tears come for the empathy to her pain. Joy fills the heart for the faith she walks in.
God is good no matter what.
He is good even if & even when, the unthinkable happens. It is my prayer for you and I that through any trial or joy we would be drawn closer into his embrace and strengthened through His grace.
By His grace, faith steps in when circumstances are anything but good. It leads us to a sure foundation, in Him.
When we can’t see what’s ahead we can still walk with courage knowing there is a safe & sure place to land.
And so, just as we need reminders to look for His goodness, we need to live with faith eyes. We need to trust the one who sees it all, even if our perception tells us something completely different.
This young widow has faith. She can’t see how God will provide, but she trusts Him. Through God’s truths and His word her faith continues to grow even though.
I want that kind of faith. I want the kind of faith that brings healing and freedom even when and even if. We are a people who need that kind of faith.
Living with that kind of faith is intentional because it operates in the supernatural, in ways we cannot see or understand.
When I started blogging I was unsure what my focus would be. After much prayer, the Lord revealed “faith eyes” to me. It is now my handle for many social media accounts and it suits me well. I wasn’t aware then of how much the word would mean to me and how much the Lord would be teaching me through this focus.
Maybe it’s not just for me? I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this. Stand with me to see more and more of His goodness?
Maybe, you and I, we could be strengthened and encouraged in our day-to-day circumstances by learning to live with faith eyes.
Even if. Even when. Even though. And even through…it all.
with love, Jolene
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Oh yes, and AMEN! In fact, I am speaking on this very topic on Thursday on Lisa Shaw’s Blog Talk Radio program. We must be intentional in looking for the goodness of God in the midst of all our circumstances, but when we do, we are rewarded with peace and joy. Great post, Jolene!
How wonderful that you are talking about this on the radio program Leah! May your words be a blessing to many.
Hey Jolene …
You’ve just about made it through the 31 Days! Yay! And faith got you there … faith in the One who has prompted your words and filled your heart and given you something of value to put on paper.
Thanks for reminding us that faith is most a delight in those ‘even and especially’ times when all around us looks dark and foreboding.
Blessings to you as you finish up the series …
Thank you Linda. 🙂 Phew…glad to have pushed through and thankful for a bit of a break coming soon too.
This? “We need to trust the one who sees it all, even if our perception tells us something completely different.” Yes! God’s been teaching me about this in a new way lately.
AMEN! Me too Kristin. Me too. Going with God…
This is beautiful. I have scheduled my post for tomorrow and it is titled, In the Midst of The Even Though’s! God is so good! I will be praying for that family. Be blessed!
Oh Jennifer I love that! I’ll be looking for your post tomorrow. Thank you for sharing and praying.
Jolene, your blog is always such an encouraging, uplifting place! So glad I stopped in from Coffee for Your Heart. Blessings!
Thank you for your kind words Renee. {hugs!}
I’m so encouraged when I hear stories of others who trust God and lean into His goodness even through the most horrific circumstances. Thank you for sharing this story today! May we celebrate God and who He is today. 🙂
Amen Asheritah! Celebrating with you.
Such an encouraging post, friend, and I love your take on the letterpress blocks. Our words are powerful thought changers/heart changers. So grateful for your wisdom expressed so beautifully here today.
Thank you so much for your kindness and your life-giving words Jennifer. 🙂
I”ll be praying for the young widow and her five children. May she feel God’s presence as she journeys through grief. You are so right, we need to have ‘faith even though’.
Thank you Anita! I so appreciate others willing to pray with me. Standing together, seeking Him.
God is good! Always! What a beautiful living example of faith and His gift of peace that is beyond human understanding. Thank you so much for sharing this. I know you’ve touched the hearts of many today. You definitely touched mine. Thanks and blessings to you, Jolene!
Thank you dear Deb! You are a blessing in many ways as His light shines through you and all of your gratitude!
Jolene, I’m your neighbor over at Holley’s Coffee for Your Heart today! I so love this post, and the sweet testimony of the young widow…I have a friend who is a mom to 5, one of which is severely handicapped, she says, “Some days I just look up to heaven and say, ‘Jesus, You know what You’re doing. I trust You.” That so speaks to my heart, too!
Many blessings to you 🙂
Thank you for sharing Beth. When life is hardest, God seems more real for those who look to Him. What a testimony in your friend. Prayers for her and you today.
Oh Yes! This: “God is good no matter what. He is good even if & even when…” Amen, my friend! He is a good God, in a good mood… we so often forget that!
Thank you Karrilee. You are always a light to others friend. XOXO
God is good. All the time. There will always be even ifs and even whens popping up. We just need the right perspective. This touched my heart!
Thank you so much Sarah. And Amen sister!
Dear Jolene,
thank you for your words! Since a few weeks my grandma is diagnosed again with cancer – now in her lungs. It’s a hard time now. And since Saturday my ‘ever-problem-ear’ seems to have a new problem…I had many surgerys with this and it seems I have to go to hospital once again… I hoped it would be ‘silent’ until the day ‘I’ choose the time for my last surgery.
And now you wrote about ‘Faith’ and it made me feel covered in love and hope, like there were nothing to fear of! Thank you, dear friend!! I feel like the sun is shining brighter and the autumn is more beautiful…
Blessings to you,
Sonja
Thank you for sharing so that I may pray for you Sonja. I was born 40% deaf and had ear surgeries every year for over a decade. Thankful for His gifts and how He grows our faith in hard times as we lean in to Him. May we both feel His brightness today! 🙂
Jolene,
This is such a beautiful post that really touched my heart. It’s easy to say that you have faith but when trouble comes all faith tends to diminish. This is such a good reminder. It reminds me of the Hebrews 11:1 which says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Thank you for that reminder to never forget God’s faithfulness through every circumstance
~Lovelle from DaySpring