How can trusting God's goodness impact our response to life's challenges? Rest Found in God’s Proven Goodness Psalm 116:7: “Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” • The psalmist talks to his own soul, calling it back to “rest.” • Rest flows from remembering the Lord’s character: “the LORD has been good.” • Challenges lose their crushing weight when God’s unchanging goodness is the lens through which we look at them. Remember Yesterday’s Deliverances • Psalm 116 is a thanksgiving psalm celebrating rescue from death (vv. 3–4, 8). • Looking back fuels faith for today: – Psalm 77:11: “I will remember the works of the LORD.” – 1 Samuel 17:37: David recalled past victories over lion and bear before facing Goliath. • Keep a record of answered prayers. When new trouble hits, reread that list. His past faithfulness is a promise of future faithfulness. Rest Replaces Panic • Anxiety says, “Figure everything out.” Rest says, “God already has.” • Philippians 4:6–7: Prayer plus thanksgiving ushers in “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.” • 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Casting implies letting go. You can’t keep holding on and still call it trust. Confidence That God Works Good Out of Hard • Romans 8:28: “We know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.” • Joseph’s testimony in Genesis 50:20: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” • Knowing this turns problems into platforms for seeing God’s hand. Guarding the Heart with Gratitude • James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” Training the eye to spot those gifts keeps bitterness from settling in. • Lamentations 3:22–23: New mercies arrive every morning—even mornings that start with trials. • Gratitude is the doorway to joy (Psalm 100:4) and a shield against despair. Living Out Trust in the Middle of Trials • Speak truth to yourself as the psalmist did: “Return to your rest, O my soul.” Your emotions don’t get the final word—God’s word does. • Choose obedience while you wait. Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” Worry stalls; obedience advances. • Encourage others. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says God comforts us so that we can comfort others. Sharing your story reinforces your own faith. Practical Ways to Lean on His Goodness 1. Daily Scripture intake – Start or end the day with passages on God’s character (e.g., Psalm 34, Isaiah 40). 2. Prayer of surrender – Verbally hand over today’s challenge: “Lord, I trust Your goodness here.” 3. Gratitude journal – Record at least three evidences of His goodness every evening. 4. Community accountability – Invite a trusted believer to remind you of God’s goodness when you forget. 5. Worship playlist – Fill mind and atmosphere with songs that magnify His faithfulness (Psalm 40:3). The Result: A Soul at Rest • Circumstances may stay hard, but the heart stays calm. • God’s goodness becomes a pillow for the soul, allowing sleep even in storms (Psalm 4:8). • A resting believer showcases the gospel, proving that real security is not in changed circumstances but in an unchanging God. |
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