GOD IS GOOD

As my anxiety faded, along with the floodwater projection, I sent some text messages out to friends who had either helped move our belongings from the basement to the first floor, or had been praying for us. I thanked them and let them know that the latest river crest projection was a good four feet lower than the earlier forecast that projected another major flood much like the 2005 and 2006 floods. Replies came back indicating their genuine relief at our near miss.

There was another recurring theme to the replies as well. This included praises such as "God is good!” As I thought about that a curious idea came to mind. If you say "God is good" when bad news does not come out of a difficult situation, are you implying that "God is not good" when the circumstances go against you?

I guess it depends on what you’re basing the statement on. If you are making a prayer and are using the results of that prayer to determine whether God is good or not than you have put yourself into a position of judging God, and are making the assumption that you know better than God.

We pray for things that we think we want and assume that if it doesn’t turn out the way we wanted, or expect, that God didn’t hear our prayers. But what if God had other plans? Or is answering them in a way that we don’t understand? Let’s take the river scenario.

In 2005 & 2006 many of us prayed that the river did not reach the flood stage levels that were initially projected. It did flood however, and many people suffered losses of property and enormous costs. However, what if God had a plan for somebody during one of those floods? Let’s consider a possibility where an individual, for whatever reason, was led to Christ during the flood of 2005. Wouldn’t the salvation of just one person be more important than my basement staying dry? Wouldn’t that salvation even be more important than the major flooding that occurred in homes of friends of mine further north?

Consider another possibility as well. How do I know that the prayer I am making isn’t being answered? Maybe God is answering my prayer, but in a way that will ultimately be much more beneficial to me, and others, than a short term dry basement. The flooding I received in 2005 & 2006 led me, along with others, to create the residents group RAFT (Residents Against Flood Trends). I’d like to think that our group has become a benefit and a blessing to some people out there. Perhaps God answered our prayer in such a way to nudge us toward doing just that.

Over the past couple of years I have changed the way I pray for things. I still pray that the river doesn’t flood. I still pray for the safety and health of family, friends and even strangers. But I always try to add a little something to each prayer. I try to ask that God gives me the strength and courage to get through difficult times, if his will doesn’t coincide with what I think I need. I ask God that if it is time for somebody to be brought home to him, that peace and comfort is given to that person during their struggles at the end of their life. I ask that family and friends can understand the love that you have for each and every one of us. I am trying to follow Christ’s lead when he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42)

42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

It is his will that is important, not my desires or even needs. So in the end no matter what the final situation, the phrase can, and should, remain the same.

No flooding – “God is Good”.

Minor Flooding – “God is Good”.

Major Flooding – “God is Good”.

It is a statement, not a judgment, a ruling or a scorecard. It is statement acknowledging that God is in fact, good!

Say a prayer for somebody today.