Looking Good or Being Good?

S - Deuteronomy 32:1-4 (NLT): ""Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!  Hear, O earth, the words that I say! My teaching will fall on you like rain; my speech will settle like dew. My words will fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants. I will proclaim the name of the LORD; how glorious is our God! He is the Rock; his work is perfect.  Everything he does is just and fair.  He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!"

O - These are among the last words Moses will speak to corporate Israel.  The declaration which is gentle yet completely permeating all reality is this:  even when things are not looking good, God is being good.  He is glorious - awesomely brilliant, limitless in capacity and power, extreme in his goodness.  He is the Rock - he never changes … never forgets to me merciful and never forgets that we are frail as breath and just dust.  He is working - not engaging us as a hobby or dalliance or part time pro bono give back.  The Almighty God really is tender toward us and ruthless toward our enemies.  Rather than being governed by "looking good" he is completely dedicated to being good.  He is never threatened by those who may misperceive his decisions and is unintimidated by those who rail or resist. He is purposeful in everything he causes and in everything he allow … everything he does is just (literally of the truth) and fair (literally without evil, i.e. good).

A -  I can languish when things are looking bad and going poorly. I am often intimidated by the "resisters" and threatened by the accusers who use their own judgments and comparisons, often using the words of Scripture but altering their meaning.  Add to my weakness a fallen world and an absolutely brilliant, loving, limitless and merciful God and the opportunity for me to think that the Lord's goodness is not in play intensifies.  How do I reconcile his goodness with tragedy, trial, hardships and pain?  When it looks like he is not only inactive or passive but completely disinterested, what should my conclusion and my prayer life be?  For children, such inexplicable dilemmas are frequent as their parents orchestrate and shape their lives.  Jesus says "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in." The resolution is actually possible/required long before the circumstantial change and the information released to the intellect.  The resolution is all about presence - a child at rest on their mother's lap … the faithful God who does no wrong.  Will I accept, welcome and embrace this resolution OR try demanding one of my own making?  Today, I will trust the Lord.

P - Lord who is Lord,
Today I am seeing as a child.  Today I am trusting as your child.  Today I am rejoicing in the truth that you are always being good even when things are not looking good.  Lord, please fill my heart, mind, eyes, mouth, spirit, soul, hands and feet with faith.  Please engage me that I might be found as a child at rest on his mom's lap.  I am asking for open doors, open heavens and your open purse unto all that you've already had in mind. 
Steve