Don’t you love the words “Once upon a time?” When you hear these words, you know exactly what’s coming. You know that it will be an entertaining story, and you know that it probably will end with “and they lived happily ever after.”
We all want a “Once upon a time” and “they lived happily ever after” life.
Sometimes we phrase this in different ways. Sometimes we talk about how “lucky we are.” At other times we speak about “being fortunate.”
Occasionally, we get closer to the truth because we talk about “how blessed we are.”
Don’t you wish you could guarantee these things for your life?
God is the God of giving and the God of blessing. He wants to bless you, and He wants to give you all good things.
It’s at that point that the problem begins. We misunderstand what makes life meaningful and how we get it.
Life cannot be judged by how much you make or how many trips you take. It can’t be judged by how happy you are.
It has to do with what God created you to be.
God created you to live in close relationship with Him.
From the very beginning, God prepared His people for blessings and joy. He gave Adam and Eve an amazing garden filled with joys unimaginable. God provided a way for their experiencing all His blessings.
Like you and me, their problem was obedience. Instead of listening to God, they heard the subtle, seductive voice of the tempter. So do we.
God has told us what to do. We are to seek Him and His righteousness. We are to trust Him in all our ways. We are to let Him direct our paths. To do this is to experience God’s blessings and goodness.
Only then do we get to experience a life of significance and blessing.
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3 Responses
Waylan,
I am Benji Cowart’s Dad and so thrilled about God’s call on him and his family. We look forward to meeting you and the folks @ FBC/Covington. I am writing in regards to “Once upon a time” and especially “God has told us what to do. We are to seek Him and His righteousness. We are to trust Him in all our ways. We are to let Him direct our paths. To do this is to experience God’s blessings and goodness.”
We have invested a lifetime of seeking Him & His righteousness.
When Obamcare was launched in 2011, my income began to sink rapidly. My primary source of income was derived from consulting with nonprofit hospital foundations. In 2013, my income had dropped form six figures to $18,000. In late 2013, we had to do a “deed in lieu of foreclosure” regarding our home of 28 years.
In March of 2014, our oldest son died of a heart attack. In April of 2016, my wife had quadruple bypass surgery. In February of 2017, I had five bypasses.
God has blessed us with his sustaining grace. Don’t you think we should consider the other side of “goodness and blessings” in regards to “In this world you will have many trials and tribulations”?
Many Christ Followers are not ready for the other side of “Once upon a time”.
Blessings!
Mike, I am looking forward to knowing you as well.
I have never been able to answer why “bad things happen to good people.” I don’t find an answer for any of this except for the answer of Jesus in John 9 about the man born blind, “but so that God’s works might be revealed in him” (John 9:3). I do know–as do you and so many others–He wants us to continue to trust and follow Him.
Tomorrow, I will try to deal with “the other side” of the coin.
Mr. Cowart, multiple life changing circumstances stacked one on top of another are understood. Praying for you, Mrs. Cowart and your family. Thankful for the goodness of God in all things!