His Goodness and Mercy
Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord .
When I read David’s words, “Surely, goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life” (NASB), I am reminded that good and merciful are also listed among the many attributes of God. It is not only what He does, but it is who God is. He will not withhold what is best from His children or leave them to fend for themselves. Like most children, we have a very limited ability to determine what is best for ourselves. David writes with the assurance that whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, we can be assured that although not all things are good, God is good in all things.
The Spirit of God fills the life of every New Testament believer just as His Spirit would fill the Old Testament tabernacle or temple. He is always with us; His mercy is everlasting and His goodness is forever faithful.
When we experience our darkest days, nights, weeks, or months, we may not see God’s presence or His hand guiding us. Yet, once we get through those bleak seasons, we are able to look back and be in awe of the God who never left us alone. God’s light illuminates what the darkness tries to hide. Darkness always tries to hide the goodness of God.
His beauty and love chase after us every day of our lives. When we remember our Shepherd’s goodness, it is easier for us to trust him with what’s in front of us. In the midst of a crisis, it can seem He has left us in the dust. But the story isn’t over. While we wait for our good Shepherd and valiant warrior to bring us through this difficult race called life, we can simply reach out in faith, trust the Holy Spirit within, and grab the hand of God.
