life has been really good lately.
we moved into a new home.
we’re adjusting to the “new.”
we have some good friends in our lives.
our health is good.
we’re paying our bills.
our family is doing well.
life is good.
in fact, it’s too good.

it’s been a while since we’ve had a time span of good. the past couple of years have brought some pretty big challenges. so now that things seem relatively okay, i’m wondering when the bad is going to happen.

when are we going to get that email?
or that phone call?
or discover that issue with our home, car or job?
are our kids going to be okay?

life wasn’t mean to be this good. after all, we live in a broken world.
i’m familiar with broken.
disappointment.
frustration.
grief.
loss.

my life hasn’t been tragic. there have been many great things that have happened.
but i also know from experience that good is a season, and bad happens too.

so every day, i wait for something to go wrong.
and while i wait, life goes on and i miss the good that drifts by.

Jesus says: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today,” (Matthew 6:34, NLT).

i hear this and take it as a personal challenge. i can fill up a day with worry like a champ. i can easily imagine all kinds of worst case scenarios that never come true.

but in the verse before, Jesus says: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need,” (Matthew 6:33, NLT).
everything i need.
including what i need to handle whatever bad happens.

He is the God who goes before me, and provides what i need even before i know i need it. and He provides what i need, at the moment i really need it—not before, not after.

whether it’s manna in the morning, or quail in the evening.
whether it’s money to fix a broken car.
or wisdom to know who to call for a home repair.
it’s grace. it’s love. it’s peace in the middle of whatever happens.
whatever i need, God provides.*

so when bad happens, the weight of dealing with it isn’t on my shoulders.
so i need not fear.
God provides.
i just need to lean into Him.
to seek Him.
to trust Him.

and in the meantime, enjoy the good as well. because God walks through the good and the bad with me, with my family, and shows me all the time that He is good.
that He’s in control.
that nothing surprises Him.

and as a result, bad is broken.
*(verse 33 is preceded by several verses about provision and not worrying. check out Matthew 6:25-32. yes, look it up. you’ll be glad you did.)

note: after writing this blog post, bad did happen. in fact, we live in a broken world and bad happens. but i think there is something fundamentally wrong with the mentality i operate with–expect the worst and you’ll never be disappointed. it involves a lack of trust in a God who can handle anything, good or bad, because that mentality is more about protecting myself from disappointment, than trusting in a God who leads me through the good and the bad. 

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image courtesy of flickr.com/creative commons/by vollefolklore