We gave Emma the middle name Hope because she really helped us to understand how important hope is. Despite all of life's trials, we can find joy in all circumstances when we put our hope for the future in the God of all creation (not in our own strength or understanding!)
When we picked Toby as the name for the new baby (because we like it!) we were thrilled to discover that it means "God is good". That's a tough concept for some people to grasp as they assume that God is either behind bad things that happen to them or that he should protect us from those things.
However, if we look at John 17, Jesus, when he prayed for us said "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."
To remove all trials from our lives because we believe in God would not benefit us - we would never grow as we can only do in the midst of trials. However, it is through our faith and trust in God that we receive protection from the worst that the devil can throw at us!
However bad it gets, there is always a way it could be worse! That's why we must always be thankful to God, knowing he has protected us from what the enemy would really like to do to us!
Here's a devotional that explains more.
God Is Watching over You
by Rick Warren
When we picked Toby as the name for the new baby (because we like it!) we were thrilled to discover that it means "God is good". That's a tough concept for some people to grasp as they assume that God is either behind bad things that happen to them or that he should protect us from those things.
However, if we look at John 17, Jesus, when he prayed for us said "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."
To remove all trials from our lives because we believe in God would not benefit us - we would never grow as we can only do in the midst of trials. However, it is through our faith and trust in God that we receive protection from the worst that the devil can throw at us!
However bad it gets, there is always a way it could be worse! That's why we must always be thankful to God, knowing he has protected us from what the enemy would really like to do to us!
Here's a devotional that explains more.
God Is Watching over You
by Rick Warren
“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6 NLT).
God is watching over you.
When King David writes, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me,” he’s not saying, “Surely only good things will happen to me!”
The fact is bad things happen to good people. What David is teaching us is that God can take bad, evil, and difficult situations and bring something good out of them.
It’s one of God’s great promises to us: we can know that all things are working for our good “if we love God and are fitting into his plans” (Romans 8:28 LB). If you’re a believer, the Bible says all things are working together for good—not that all things are good, but that they work together for good. There’s no difficulty, dilemma, defeat, or disaster in life that God can’t ultimately turn toward good.
When you understand God’s grace and mercy, there’s no need to fear the future. God isn’t trying to get even with you. Jesus shouldered the penalty for everything you’ve ever done wrong or will do wrong. He paid for it on the cross. So when a bad thing happens, you don’t have to think, “God’s getting even with me.” That’s how God’s grace and mercy work.
Mercy, like goodness, follows us in life. Picture a parent following a little child around picking up after them; God is constantly picking up our messes.
Think about this:
• Christians go to the future, not with a question mark, but with an exclamation point. God will be with you no matter what happens. He will help you out.
• God’s goodness provides and protects; God’s mercy pardons and forgives. God’s goodness will supply; God’s mercy will sooth. God’s goodness will help; God’s mercy will heal.
• Goodness is the fact that God gives us good things in life that we don’t deserve. Mercy means God holds back the condemnation we deserve.
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