{"id":5980,"date":"2024-06-23T21:41:27","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T01:41:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=5980"},"modified":"2025-06-02T13:37:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T17:37:30","slug":"what-is-good-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=5980","title":{"rendered":"(In the Moments) What is Good?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m on our back porch enjoying the breeze of a chilly spring morning. The flowers are blooming, the trees are just beginning to bud and the grass is greening. I\u2019m soaking in the spender of \u201cnow\u201d.\u00a0 A few birds visit our feeder suspended above the wooded path to our barn. A steady flow of cascading water from our fountain forms the background rhythm for their melodious songs.<\/p>\n

I rest in the goodness of God.\u00a0When I’m present with Him, the troubles of my life are out of view. Because He’s good, I’m good.<\/p>\n

However, when I remember my present difficulties, if I’m not careful, they can suck the good right out of me.<\/p>\n

Psalm 73<\/span><\/strong><\/em> tells a story of a man who’s dealing with a crisis of belief. Things are not going well and he really doesn’t know what to do.<\/p>\n

When the Psalm opens up, Asaph is in a bad way. He doesn\u2019t like his circumstances. He\u2019s come close to stumbling and almost slips. He feels as if he’s wasted his time keeping his heart pure. He feels stricken all day long and chastened every morning.<\/p>\n

To add to his unrest, envy has crept in. He sees wicked people who are prideful and arrogant, yet they seem to be doing fine.\u00a0 They’re not in trouble or plagued. They prosper and are even fat, which was considered a good thing back then.<\/p>\n

Asaph feels embittered and pierced within, yet he makes a wise choice. He brings his confused mindset honestly before God.<\/p>\n

When I\u00a0pondered to understand this,<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\nIt was troublesome in my sight<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>Until I came into the sanctuary of God …<\/span><\/em><\/span>\u00a0(Psalm 73:16-17a<\/strong> NASB).<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the key to what happens next. No matter what our state, no matter how badly we\u2019ve screwed up, no matter how angry we are at God, we should follow Asaph’s example and enter God’s sanctuary.<\/p>\n

God is always ready to hear where we are and the honest condition of our hearts. He can handle whatever we want to dish out. The worst thing we can do is shy away from Him because of shame, guilt or disappointment.<\/p>\n

As Asaph talks to God, his heart begins to shift. Though his feelings haven’t changed, he sees the end of those who don\u2019t follow God.\u00a0 Then I perceived their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction\u00a0(Psalm 73:17b-18 <\/strong>NASB).<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Then in verses 23<\/span><\/strong><\/em> and 24<\/span><\/em><\/strong>, a dramatic turn occurs. Talking to God he says, Nevertheless,\u00a0 I am continually with You. You have taken hold of my right hand and with Your council will guide me, and afterwards receive me to glory.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Whatever pit we find ourselves in right this moment, whatever evidence we see around us that life is not good, we can repeat Asaph’s words above in sincerity to God, releasing our lives into His care.<\/p>\n

How reassuring! This truth can completely change our perspective as well.<\/p>\n

It did for Asaph. See what he wrote next in verse 25<\/span><\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Whom have I in heaven but you? And beside you I desire nothing on earth.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

By bringing his concerns to God, even his complaints, the Lord performed a 180 degree shift in Asaph\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s recognize, as Asaph did, that goodness is not in how our lives are going. Goodness is in God\u2019s nearness. God is always with us and He is always good, no matter what goes on in our lives.<\/p>\n

Asaph ended his Psalm with bedrock truth we can build our lives around.<\/p>\n

\u00a0But as for me, the nearness of God is my good (Psalm 73:28a<\/strong> NASB).<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

Challenge: <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

What circumstance threatens your sense of well-being this very moment? In other words, what has to be right in your life for you to be okay: a thriving marriage, prospering children, successful career, etc. All these good things can never replace the fact that we are good because God is good. Place the Lord above all things. He is worthy. He is trustworthy. He is good.<\/p>\n

Prayer:<\/span><\/h3>\n

Lord, I’m sorry I often slip back into seeking my “okayness”\u00a0 from the circumstances of this world. I’ve asked You to help me to surrender more and more of my life to You. You’re answering this prayer, often with trials I would have never asked for. But, through it all I’m good because You are good and You are near.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Thank You.<\/em><\/p>\n

W<\/em>ith <\/em>all my love, Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n

Other posts in our series<\/span> In The Moments<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

As Sea Gulls Fly<\/a><\/p>\n

The Gift of Presence<\/a><\/p>\n

It is Finished<\/a><\/p>\n

Behold the Moments<\/a><\/p>\n

Tranquility<\/a><\/p>\n

Stop Striving<\/a><\/p>\n

Simplicity In Christ<\/a><\/p>\n

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Robby Buck<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Nonfiction books by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

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Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn\u2019t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God\u2019s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It\u2019s not just a good idea, it\u2019s vital to our journey as human beings.\u00a0Rhythms of Joy<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Novels by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Please Check out the\u00a0\u00a0Cola City Podcast<\/a>\u00a0. Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m on our back porch enjoying the breeze of a chilly spring morning. The flowers are blooming, the trees are just beginning to bud and the grass is greening. I\u2019m soaking in the spender of \u201cnow\u201d.\u00a0 A few birds visit our feeder suspended above the wooded path to our barn. A steady flow of cascading water from our fountain forms the background rhythm for their melodious songs.<\/p>\n

I rest in the goodness of God.\u00a0When I’m present with Him, the troubles of my life are out of view. Because He’s good, I’m good.<\/p>\n

However, when I remember my present difficulties, if I’m not careful, they can suck the good right out of me.<\/p>\n

Psalm 73 tells a story of a man\u00a0 who’s dealing with a crisis of belief. Things are not going well and he really doesn’t know what to do.<\/p>\n

When the Psalm opens up, Asaph is in a bad way. He doesn\u2019t like his circumstances. He\u2019s come close to stumbling and almost slips. He feels as if he’s wasted his time keeping his heart pure. He feels stricken all day long and chastened every morning.<\/p>\n

To add to his unrest, envy has crept in. He sees wicked people who are prideful and arrogant, yet they seem to be doing fine.\u00a0 They’re not in trouble or plagued. They prosper and are even fat, which was considered a good thing back then.<\/p>\n

Asaph feels embittered and pierced within, yet he makes a wise choice. He brings his confused mindset honestly before God.<\/p>\n

When I\u00a0pondered to understand this,
\nIt was troublesome in my sight
\n17\u00a0Until I came into the sanctuary of God …\u00a0(Psalm 73:16-17a NASB).<\/p>\n

This is the key to what happens next. No matter what our state, no matter how badly we\u2019ve screwed up, no matter how angry we are at God, we should follow Asaph’s example and enter God’s sanctuary.<\/p>\n

God is always ready to hear where we are and the honest condition of our hearts. He can handle whatever we want to dish out. The worse thing we can do is shy away from Him because of shame, guilt or disappointment.<\/p>\n

As Asaph talks to God, his heart begins to shift.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,614],"tags":[603,2849,384,1507,2813,3175,326,604,612,422,613,606,607,509,39,1491,58,602,610,297,2850,605,54,3174,3176,919,920,774,46,609,611,577,608],"class_list":["post-5980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-god-is-our-reward","category-the-goodness-of-god","tag-aspah","tag-beyond-time","tag-brutal-honesty","tag-circumstances","tag-cola-city-podcast","tag-confused","tag-difficulties","tag-disappointed","tag-disappointment","tag-disheartened","tag-embittered","tag-envy","tag-fat","tag-god","tag-gods-nearness","tag-gods-perspective","tag-gods-presence","tag-good","tag-guilt","tag-heart","tag-hope-remains","tag-lord","tag-psalm-73","tag-psalm-7316-17","tag-psalm-7317-18","tag-psalm-7323-24","tag-psalm-7325","tag-psalm-7328","tag-rest","tag-shame","tag-spring","tag-troubles","tag-wicked"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5980"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5980\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7039,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5980\/revisions\/7039"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}