The Lord has promised good to me

Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me

all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live (Ps. 23:6 CSB).

All the days. This includes today, one of earthly suffering.

The Lord has promised good to me.

His Word, my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be,

as long as life endures.

(“Amazing Grace,” Newton, J., 1779)

Father, today I cling to Your sure promise of goodness. You promise that

for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose to conform us to the image of our beloved Savior (Rom. 8:29)…

All things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 ESV).

That’s so comforting…because You are only goodness and faithful love.

I’m reminded of Joseph, who endured years of suffering at his brothers’ hands. Yet, though they “meant evil” for him,

You “meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20 ESV).

And what was the greatest good that came from it all?

You physically protected and sustained the tribe of Judah, fulfilling Your covenant promise. Through all of the horror in Joseph’s life, You fulfilled Your redemptive plan and promise to bring Your Son to earth. 

And as a result, You made it possible for me to become Yours.

You’ve drawn me to Jesus Christ in Your goodness, faithful love, and mercy toward me. 

Help me to see You, my good Father

These events of Your glorious love story were so much bigger than what Joseph could see. I can’t see how today’s suffering fits into the bigger picture of Your glorious love story for me. But I do know that Your goodness is carrying me to the last day when You raise me up. Your glorious love story has more to come, when You consummate all of Your promises, in its last chapter!

So. please help me to “taste and see” (Ps. 34:8 ESV) Your promised goodness…in who You are, my unchanging Father of lights, Who has already provided me the Light of the world, my Savior Jesus Christ.

When Satan assails us to stop up our path,

and courage all fails us, we triumph by faith.

He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,

this heart-cheering promise, “The Lord will provide.”

(“The Lord Will Provide,” Newton, J., 1775)

Your goodness, as I depend on You

In Your infinite wisdom and always-good plan for my life, You promise to give good things to those who ask, seek, and knock (Mt. 7:7-11).

Somehow, this hard day includes these good things.

This suffering undoubtedly increases my soul’s longing, thirst, and hunger for You, in deepened dependence on You for many needs. I’m asking You for help with every tiny thing and seeking Your Word constantly.

Could my constant knocking and need for Your continual help be a good thing, clinging to Your truths over and over?

Though troubles assail us and dangers affright,

though friends should all fail us and foes all unite,

yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,

the promise assures us, “The Lord will provide.”

Your goodness as I take refuge from stresses, in Your care

Could it be that You’re carrying and leading me, Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11) as I walk through the darkest valleys? For You promise that, in this good work You’re doing in me, You will help me daily fight doubts and fears so I can trust You, all the way, until the day I finally see You (1 Tim. 6:12).

The birds, without garner or storehouse, are fed;

from them let us learn to trust God for our bread.

His saints what is fitting shall ne’er be denied

so long as ’tis written, “The Lord will provide.”

Your goodness as I take refuge in the salvation You’ve given me

For because of Your powerful good news of the gospel (Rom. 1:16-17), You promise that I’m no longer destined for wrath on Your judgment day, but I’m destined

to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him (1 Thess. 5:9-10 ESV).

Could it be that You’re right now giving me a greater intimacy with You, Jesus, in my desperate need and longing for You?

No strength of our own and no goodness we claim;

yet, since we have known of the Savior’s great name,

in this our strong tower for safety we hide:

the Lord is our power, “The Lord will provide.”

In the name of my strong tower, my refuge and salvation, my powerful Savior and Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, amen.

Material adapted from Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering: A Devotional Bible Study Prayer Journal, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2023

A playlist to sing our good God’s great and precious promises to us, into suffering

How I need to sing my heart-cries to our good Father, to our Lord Jesus, by His Spirit’s work within. And I need to sing His Scriptural promises to my aching heart and pain-wracked body. Beautifully and powerfully, He then wells me up into praise and gratitude as I shelter safely in His care, amid hard suffering.

The Lord has promised this good to me…and to you. 

If it would bless you to sing along with the songs He’s giving me to endure and keep going…to the end, I’ll share His gifts of weekly playlists to your email, along with continual friendship and personal prayer as I walk alongside you. Just sign up here, and we can walk together as His beloved in Christ. 

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