Sometimes life is hard... it just is.  Sometimes it is shocking, sometimes discomfiting, sometimes scary, and sometimes even what those of us prone to dramatics in our speech would call fraught with distress.  Thank goodness that sometimes it is also precious and passion-filled, and full of inspiration... and also good, because the Maker of life is good.

Today I want to talk about the goodness of our God.  I will admit that it hasn't always been easy for me to talk about the goodness of God.  Not because I doubt it (although that unfortunately has happened), but because I don't know the words to use.  It seems mundane and cliche to say the same things over again, to say things like how much the Lord has blessed us through such and such situation, or how He has been so good to us, or how He showed up in this or that way.  Every single one of those things is usually true, He did do that, He has blessed us by taking care of us, He is good, He did "show up" that day.  Why then does it feel so uncomfortable to say such things, and in some ways, to hear them?  Why does it feel awkward?

In Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby talks about every invitation of the Lord to join in His work resulting in a crisis of belief.  Each time the God calls us to do something, we have a choice to make... are we going to belie

ve that He is going to do what He said?  Are we even going to be believe that He really said it, or that we heard Him clearly?  This is a crisis of belief.  

A week and a half ago my friend Whitney saw the fruition of a call the Lord had placed on her life many years ago.  She stepped out in faith and followed Him in everything He asked her to do, saying yes, despite the many crisis' of belief she faced along the way.  Our prayer group had the privilege of seeing her walk throughthat process, and sharing in watching God's goodness unfurl.  What we noticed, though, was that the amazing weekend we were able to participate in was not the greatest demonstration of God's goodness, being reminded of everything He had done to lead up to it was.  I watched my friend Chrystan turn into the precious jewel of the Father we knew she always was, my friend Andrea be strengthened into a beautiful woman of faith, my friend Sandra let go and embrace everything that the Lord has for her, and my friend Leesa step up with courage and boldness to follow the Lord's lead.  All because of one woman's obedience... all because of God's GOODNESS.  He was good through the mess, good through the ugly, good through the doubt, good through the unbelief, good through the fire, and good through what seemed like defeat.  He is good even now.

"Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you," Psalm 116:7

The title ofthis blog might seem strange for talking about God's goodness, but the subject of the book Whitney just had published was being imperfectly brave (imperfectlybrave.com)... choosing to believe in God's goodness no matter what is happening in your life, or what He asks you to do.  Believing, and acting upon it.  I am leaving for Romania in two months (for those of you who haven't heard yet, I am still going to Italy, but I have committed to going to Romania for two years first).  I am not fully funded.  In fact, I still need 3/4 ($1500) of my monthly support to come in, but I am going.  I am going, and while the plan is to come home after a month to raise the rest of the funds if they are not fully in, I am stepping out in faith and buying a one-way ticket.  I do not know the Lord's timing, but I know that it is always perfect.

Please pray with me simply for a heart of obedience and watchfulness to see what He is doing and step into it bravely.