The Weekly Encourager - September 12, 2012 - No Good Thing Will He Withhold

I've been pondering Psalms 84 and 85 here at the beach. These verses struck me:

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in Thee!” - Psalm 84:11-12 NASB

“Indeed, the Lord will give what is good; and our land will yield its produce. Righteousness will go before Him, and will make His footsteps into a way.” - Psalm 85:12-13 NASB

I've been studying these verses in the larger context of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and I know that they apply to some of you as well. From a young adult longing for love and marriage, to a 40-something struggling with a difficult marriage, to friends with disabled children, to dear ones facing cancer or living with chronic pain, many of us are enduring trials right now, and the pressures are real. My question is, how real is our faith? Is our faith in God just as real as the stress of our life situations?

If you're at the beach, you have a choice between putting on your swimsuit and getting into the water, or standing on the shore looking on. I know from past experience that there's always some risk whenever you get into the water. One time years ago, powerful waves took me too far away from shore and I couldn't get back in. I was really scared! I was convinced that I would drown until a mysterious man, a very strong swimmer, appeared out of the blue and towed me in to safety. Another time, I was standing in gentle waves that barely skimmed my knees. It was a perfect day and I was ready to swim. Suddenly a huge wave overpowered me with massive force, tumbling my entire body upside down. It took only seconds for the force of the water to twist my right leg around, producing a sprained ankle that troubled me for years.

Both of those situations could have been avoided if I had just stayed out of the water, and that is some people's solution to life - don't get involved. Their main risks are boredom and loneliness, but that's better than fear and pain, right? However, I believe the Lord has called His children to live active lives which involve risks. We need to suit up and jump in! We also need to look at the whole ocean, stretching as far as we can see in either direction, and understand who made it and who keeps it in its place. As vast and powerful and terrible as the sea is, God is far more so. As calm and beautiful and life-giving as the sea is, God is far more so. Faith is the “big picture” perspective that helps us endure fear and pain.

“I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together, and exalt his name.” - Psalm 34:1-3 LB The big picture is all praise from edge to edge. It is only as I contemplate the wondrous character of the Lord God, and the totality of His unconditional love for me in Christ, that I can praise Him no matter what.

The Scripture says, “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” That implies that if we love Him and do what is right, He is not withholding any good thing from us! What?! When I first looked at the verse that way, it was revolutionary. That means that He's not withholding the loving spouse we desire, the happy marriage, the successful children, the healed body, the nicer in-laws, the ideal job, the better house, the stable finances, victory over sin. If we don't have the things we want, we don't need them right now, because the Lord is not denying any good thing that we need. “Indeed, the Lord will give what is good.” That is a statement of trust in His perfect timing and care over all the waves of our lives. He knew that my enthusiasm was going to take me too far out in the water; He knew that I would be tumbled in the waves so badly that I would sprain my ankle just standing on the shore. It seems that the Lord continues to put us in situations where we have no control whatsoever! In those cases, we must trust our lives absolutely to Him; we have no choice. Would we be trusting Him so absolutely if we did have a choice?

Lord, You have promised to mold me into Christ-likeness, and You're going to do whatever it takes to get me there. Forgive me: I am so feeble and faithless, complaining about what I do have and longing for what I don't have. Help me to be grateful for Your many good gifts. Help me to know You so well that I can praise You no matter what happens. Don't let me drown in disaster, but raise my eyes to Heaven where perfection is found in Your holy presence.

God is faithful,