“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5 ESV)

 God is good

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” (Nahum 1:7 ESV)

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8 ESV)

What God made is good

“And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31)

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” (1 Tim. 4:4 NIV)

What God does is good

“Everything he does is good.” (Psalm 111:7 NCV)

“You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.” (Psalm 119:68 ESV)

God is good to everyone

“The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.” (Psalm 145:9 NLT)

“For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matt. 5:45 NLT)

Therefore…

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 107:1 ESV)

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 ESV)

“But test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thess. 5:21 ESV)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 ESV)

Quote: 

“The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful than we will ever be able to comprehend.” - Aiden Wilson Tozer

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Matt. 7:3-5 ESV)

Blame: to find fault with; an expression of disapproval or reproach, censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, dis, dispraise, fault, knock, pan, reprehend.

Blaming others is not new

When caught in sin, Adam blamed God and Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. “The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.’ Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’” (Gen. 3:13-13 ESV)

Casting blame on others does not solve its root problem. It only shifts the focus away from you and onto someone else. Essentially, sweeping it under the rug. But, if not personally dealt with, it still exists. An old saying points out that when you point your finger at someone else, there are three of your fingers pointing back at you. To obtain mercy, the Bible instructs us to ad not and take responsibility for our own actions, to confess our sins, and to forsake them. Blaming others interrupts the process. 

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Prov. 28:13 ESV)

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” (Rom. 2:1 ESV)

Therefore…

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:31-32 ESV)

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (Prov. 21:2 ESV)

Quote:

“Hell begins with a grumbling mood, always complaining, always blaming others.” - C. S. Lewis

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:2)

I was a big worrier as a youth

As a child I worried about anything and everything! Maybe it was because I was in the foster care system and tossed around from pillar to post. I had so much uncertainty in those days and it probably contributed to my tendency to worry. As I grew up I continued my worry habit and had trouble sleeping because of it. I would often lay awake at night worrying about things. Eventually, I realized it did absolutely no good to stay awake worrying. It wouldn't change anything. All it did was make me tired and grumpy the following day and affected my ability to concentrate and work. I eventually found the answer to worrying in God’s promises!

No need to worry and lose sleep because…

•  God will take care of all your needs

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19 ESV)

•  You can boldly talk to God about anything and everything any hour of the day or night

“Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 NIV)

• God will generously give you wisdom to handle anything

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)

• You can give Him all your worries and cares

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22 NIV)

• God will work all things out for your good

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Rom. 8:28 NLT)

• God will give you direction when you need guidance

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6 NIV)

• God is your rock and fortress 

“For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me.” (Psalm 31:3 BASB)

• God’s Angels encamp around you 

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7 NIV)

• God will give you sleep 

“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves.” (Psalm 127:2 NIV)

• Therefore...  

  “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

Quote:

“No one can pray and worry at the same time.” - Max Lucado

“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” (Hab. 2:3 ESV)

Wait on the Lord to inherit the land

“For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.” (Psalm 37:9)

“Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.” (Psalm 37:34)

Wait on the Lord to receive goodness

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lam. 3:25-26 ESV)

Wait on the Lord to renew strength

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isa. 49:31 ESV) 

Wait on the Lord to receive courage

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14 ESV)

 Therefore…

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Eccles. 3:1)

“But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7 ESV)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 ESV)

Quotes:

“To wait on God means to pause and soberly consider our own inadequacy and the Lord’s all-sufficiency, and to seek counsel and help from the Lord, and to hope in Him (Psm. 33:20-22; Isa. 8:17)… The folly of not waiting for God is that we forfeit the blessing of having God work for us. The evil of not waiting on God is that we oppose God’s will to exalt Himself in mercy.” - John Piper

“If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for. The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes. The Lord’s people have always been a waiting people.” - Charles Spurgeon

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6 ESV)

No matter which side wins

When national elections occur, many will become anxious at the results. Our country is divided right down the middle. I have brothers and sisters on each side of the political aisle and both sides don’t understand how the others could vote as they do. And, when the election is finally over, some are very disappointed, even anxious and depressed about it. But, God’s instructions in the above passage makes it absolutely clear that you must NOT allow yourself to anxious about “anything”, which does include elections, if your candidate doesn’t win! Why is doing what God says so important? Because it is the ultimate answer to anxiety in all situations and it works! Something miraculous happens when the simple instruction in this passage are followed; taking things to God by “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,” instead of allowing yourself to be anxious, brings you “the peace of God, which “surpasses all understanding,” and “guards your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.” 

Rest assured that God is in charge of the future

He will make all things work out according His purpose, and that will end up okay! 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 ESV)

God plans a positive future and a hope for you 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11 ESV)

Therefore..

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 ESV)

Quotes:

“The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety." - George Mueller

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength." - Charles Spurgeon

“I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest positions He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient." - Hudson Taylor

“Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.” (Eccles.10:12 NIV)

A good man speaks from good things stored up in his heart 

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45 NIV)

Think before you speak 

“Intelligent people think before they speak; what they say is then more persuasive.” (Prov. 16:23 GNT)

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.” (Prov. 15:28 BSB)

Speak to benefit those who listen 

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph. 4:29 NIV)

Therefore…

“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.” (Prov. 13:3 NIV)

“A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! (Prov. 15:23 NIV)

 Quote:

“We have all felt the brazenness of words without emotion, the hollowness, the unaccountable unpersuasiveness of eloquence behind which lies no love.” - Henry Drummond

“The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalms 34:17-19)

Everyone experiences some kind of an emergency from time to time

Emergencies happen to everyone. Emergencies usually happen suddenly, when you least expect them. When they do arrive, know that God will take care of you. 

When an emergency happens 

• Seek God first about it –

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matt. 7:7-8 NIV)

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matt. 6:33 NLT). 

• Give thanks for it – 

 “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:18 NLT)

• Claim God’s promises about it – 

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:18)

• Watch for God’s provision for it – 

“…I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matt. 7:11)

 Therefore…

“I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matt. 6:31-32)

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7)

Quote:

“God is able to accomplish, provide, help, save, keep, subdue… He is able to do what you can’t. He already has a plan. God’s not bewildered. Go to Him.” Max Lucado

“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Prov. 23:18 ESV)

When things look dark

Sometimes, fearful and disappointing things happen making the future appear very dark and foreboding. During times like these it’s important to look at the big picture and understand that what we see is only temporary! It’s also important to understand who we belong to. As God’s children our future is actually very bright no matter how things may look here, or no matter what may happen around us or to us. During a national crisis, someone asked Billy Graham what his thoughts were and he said, “I’m not worried, I have read the last page of the Bible and we win!” Someone else has said, “I stopped worrying about what the future holds when I put my trust in the One who holds the future.”

We are God’s children

“Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3 ESV)

God is in control

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 ESV)

Therefore…

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:11-12 ESV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Rom. 15:13 ESV)

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 ESV)

 Quotes:

“Where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present.” – John Maxwell

 “Hope itself is like a star – not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“I am not really alone, because the Father is with me.” (John 16:32 GNT)

You are never alone

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 ESV)

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zeph. 3:17 ESV)

God’s steadfast love is with you

“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isa. 54:10 ESV)

Therefore…

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4 ESV)

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39 ESV)

Quote: 

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” – Jesus Christ  (John 10:27)