I just wanted to humbly and joyfully thank the Lord for two things in my life that were and are quite difficult for me. The first happened in the past while the second is still happening in the present.

1. I thank God that, although my father died many years ago, God has been my Heavenly Father. In fact, as horrible as it sounds, I do believe that if my father hadn’t passed away (and I hope gone to be with the Lord), from a human perspective I never would’ve come to the Lord. So the death of my father, although itself an evil since death is our great enemy, God in his goodness used to draw me to himself. Our gracious Heavenly Father does all things well.

2. I thank God that, although I recently had my heart broken in a failed courtship or dating, in which I moved from my home state of California to the Midwest in the winter to pursue a godly girl, I trust that this too is for my good and God’s glory, whereby God allows me to share in his holiness through it. It’s so easy for me to think that this is the end of everything, and that I ought to be content as a single man serving the Lord, and maybe that’s true, but at the same time I trust that whether I serve the Lord in singleness or in marriage that it is because God knows it is the very best for me. And in this I rejoice and thank God for his goodness to me! After all, he who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? All things work together for good for his people.

Speaking of which, I love the lyrics in the song “Count It All Joy” on the Worship God Live album (thank God for you guys, Sovereign Grace Music!):

Lord I’ll count it all joy
When the weight of sorrow
Drives me to my knees
Every heartache and pain
In Your mighty hands
Is forming Christ in me

http://emily-sc.blogspot.com/2008/04/story-of-gods-goodness.html

I love to hear these stories of God’s goodness. Sara – thanks for sharing yours as well.

your post today encouraged me to do something I’d planned on doing for a while – putting my story down on paper.

The link can be found here if you’d like to read it: http://emily-sc.blogspot.com/2008/04/story-of-gods-goodness.html.

God bless you.

Rachael – Glad you were encouraged!

Then last month Phil 4:6-7 may have come true for me. I wondered if I received that peace from vs. 7, and for me, wondering if I had it was something big.

God has blessed me through my church and my upbringing.

Thank you for the reminder to be thankful for God’s goodness.

http://stanknrankn.blogspot.com/2006/09/looking-back-and-looking-up-part-ii.html

And the other thing, I’ve been meditating on that passage in Psalm 31.

So wow…thanks for sharing Stephen!

It’s pretty amazing when we look back at the way God providentially led us to himself. Okay, it’s more than amazing, it’s incredible. God knows exactly what we need to lead us to himself!

Matt – I heard Piper say that God intends to pour out his grace upon us throughout the ages in heaven. That is certainly something to look forward to!