“But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all you do.” (Psalm 73:28 CSB)
When life gets difficult, it is quite easy to slip into a negative cycle of thinking viewing ourselves as victims and our life as a series of bad events. When a tragedy darkens our world and casts a black shadow on our future, it is tempting to become blind to the good in our lives.
Here is a sneak peek of my guest post at Devotableapp.com about how God’s presence is my good.
In moments like that, when I feel my life devoid of any good struggling to go on through the day, the last words of Psalm 73 breathe fresh hope and help me shift my perspective: “But as for me, God’s presence is my good.”
Remember to pin me for later!
God’s Presence Is My Good
God’s presence is my good. On one side there is the devastating loss, the uncertain future, the hard days full of overwhelming grief and pain, and the stressful transition to another kind of life – a life that I don’t want nor I would have chosen for myself.
And on the other side is God’s presence and this is my good that nothing and nobody can take away from me. God’s presence with me and in me is all that matters. It means that I am loved all the time and for eternity. I can rest, I can stop striving, I can stop worrying, I lack nothing because He is my Shepherd.
God’s presence means comfort and security. By His indwelling Holy Spirit God comforts us in all our troubles. There is nothing comparable with the comfort of God. In fact, Jesus called blessed those who mourn because of the comfort they will receive from Him. (Matthew 5:4)
God comforts us by the truths in His eternal Word that stands forever and by His promises for a glorious future incomparable to our present troubles. His comforting presence imparts fresh revelation and brings healing to every wound no matter how deep it is.
God’s presence brings joy and peace too. Yes, it is possible to feel simultaneously sorrow and joy, doubt and confidence, anxiety and peace. This is the paradox of living life in the flesh on this earth. Peace and joy in the Lord are not just fleeting emotions, they are deeply rooted confidence in the goodness and love of God, and His purpose and plan for our lives.
Read the rest of the post at Devotableapp.com and be strengthened and encouraged.
More Encouragement for You
There are some helpful books and resources I can recommend to strengthen your faith and help you through difficult times in growing your awareness of God’s presence:
Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings by Hadassah Treu
Life Changing Stories by Mary Armand
Hope for the Hard Days by Sarah Geringer
Extinguishing the Spirit of Fear: 30 Devotions to Battle Fear and Anxiety by Devotable
Before You Quit: Everyday Endurance, Moral Courage, and the Quest for Purpose by Doug Gehman
Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk
Women of Courage: A 40-Day Devotional by (In)Courage
Great Lives: Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance (Great Lives from God’s Word) by Charles R. Swindoll
Mining for God’s Gold in Life’s Dark Valleys by Margaret E. Head
Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert
Transforming Your Thought Life by Sarah Geringer
This page contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. The commission I make from these items will help keep this blog going. Thank you!
Your Turn
How God’s presence has been your good? Come share your experience in the comments and on social media. Thanks!
God comforts us by the truths in His eternal Word that stands forever and by His promises for a glorious future incomparable to our present troubles. #encouragement #devotion @devotableapp Share on X God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all you do. #faith #Christianliving @devotableapp Share on X
Do you want to watch this post as a vlog? Click HERE. If you found it helpful, please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Thanks!
Want to know more about me before you sign up? You can read about me HERE and check my books HERE.
There are several lines in this post that would make wonderful morning meditations before reading Scripture and starting the day. Beautifully written, and great guest post too! Thanks for sharing your comfort with us.
Thanks so much for your encouraging words, Sarah! I am happy that you could use some of the thoughts for your morning meditations.
This is beautifully written! And something to think about a bit more as we approach Christmas.
Thanks a lot, Mihaela! Yes, Advent is a great time to focus on God’s presence.
I appreciate your Pinterest about felling sorrow and joy at the same time. I’ve never really stopped to think about that. When God comforts us, we are blessed. Thank you for the thoughts!
Thanks, Lisa! Yes, it is amazing how complex and contradicting human emotions can be. We may feel deep sorrow and pain and at the same time the peaceful assuredness and comfort of God’s presence.