Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23:6, NIV

 

It is easy to recognise the goodness and mercy of God when life is going well. Praise comes easily then; gratitude rises naturally to our lips, and we give God the glory without hesitation. But when trials come, praise often feels like a sacrifice – because, if we are honest, we do not always feel what David speaks of in this psalm.

 

And yet, dear friend, God must still receive the glory. Not because our circumstances are good, but because he is. His goodness and mercy are not promised for some of our days, but for all of them.

 

Job understood this deeply. In Job 1:21, after suffering devastating loss, he praised God simply because God is sovereign. He had lost his wealth, his livelihood, his health, and his children – yet he still declared, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” It is difficult to fathom such praise in the face of such pain. But Job teaches us this: he declared who God is above everything he had, has, or lost. God remained worthy of glory because God remained good.

 

In this light, David’s words in Psalm 23:6 take on deeper meaning. Not every day feels good, but God still is. Not every season is easy, but God still is. His goodness and mercy do not depend on how a day unfolds – they simply are, present in every moment of our lives

 

What is even more comforting is this: we do not have to chase God’s goodness and mercy. It follows us. It pursues us. It meets us wherever we are.

 

Sometimes all we need is a shift in perspective – a choice to glorify God for who he is, even when our circumstances try to say otherwise.

 

Whether you find yourself on the mountaintop of abundance or walking through the refining valleys of life, know this: God is good. And his goodness and mercy are close behind you, every day of your life.

 

Indeed, all glory belongs to our God, who is good – always.

 

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that your goodness and mercy runs after me. Help me to see it in every area of my life, no matter the season I am in. May you receive the glory in it all. Amen

 

 

Dit is maklik om die goedheid en troue liefde van God te erken wanneer dit met ons goed gaan. Lofprysing kom dan maklik, ons getuig van dankbaarheid, en gee sonder huiwering al die eer aan God. Maar wanneer beproewinge kom, voel lof dikwels soos 'n opoffering – want, as ons eerlik wil wees, ons voel nie altyd soos Dawid dit in hierdie psalm beskryf nie.

 

Nogtans, liewe vriend, God moet steeds al die eer ontvang. Nie omdat ons goeie omstandighede beleef nie, maar omdat Hy God is. Hy beloof nie sy goedheid en troue liefde net vir sekere dae of tye van ons lewe nie, maar vir al ons lewensdae.

 

Job het dit goed verstaan. In Job 1:21, na al die verlies wat hy gely het, loof hy God steeds net omdat Hy almagtig is. Job het sy rykdom, sy hele bestaan, sy gesondheid en sy kinders verloor – nogtans sê hy: "Die Here het gegee en die Here het geneem. Mag die Naam van die Here geprys word!" Dit is moeilik om sulke lof in die aangesig van soveel pyn te begryp. Maar Job leer ons dat hy God bo alles stel wat hy gehad het, steeds het of reeds verloor het. God was steeds werd om geprys te word omdat Hy steeds goed is.

 

In lig hiervan, verkry Dawid se woorde in Psalm 23:6 'n dieper betekenis. Nie elke dag voel goed nie, maar God is goed. Nie alle tye is maklik nie, maar God bly getrou. Sy goedheid en getroue liefde hang nie af van hoe die dag verloop nie – dit is net daar, teenwoordig in elke oomblik van ons lewe.

 

Wat nog meer vertroostend is, is die volgende: ons hoef nie God se goedheid en troue liefde na te jaag nie, dit volg ons. Dit vind ons waar ons ookal is.

 

Soms is al wat ons nodig het 'n verandering van perspektief – om te kies om God te verheerlik vir wie Hy is, selfs wanneer ons omstandighede dit anders wil hê.

 

Of jy jou nou aan die tafel van oorvloed bevind, of in die donkerste dieptes van die lewe, onthou: God is goed. En sy goedheid en getroue liefde volg jou elke dag van jou lewe.

 

Inderdaad, alle eer behoort aan ons God wat goed is – vir altyd.

 

Gebed: Hemelse Vader, dankie dat u goedheid en getroue liefde my altyd volg. Help my om dit te onthou, ondanks watter omstandighede ek ookal beleef. Gee dat U in alles verheerlik sal word. Amen