When You Need to Remember God’s Gifts are Good
Do you like getting gifts?
Of course, you do. Who doesn’t?
It’s normal for children to start making lists of the presents they want for their birthday or Christmas long before they can write. And many of us still have lists of things we want, just in case someone’s interested . . . decades later.
You and I want what we want.
Sure we want stuff, but your list goes beyond that, doesn’t it? It also has goals, hopes, and dreams.
What was on your “gift” list?
I wanted to be a teacher, married, with 3 children, and a dog. I wanted everyone to be healthy and happy. I dreamed of large family gatherings with grown children and a bunch of grandchildren. I wanted to be talented and smart. Cute and fun. Add a few good friends and a nice home and well, you get the idea.
Okay, so maybe I was a little spoiled.
I had my perfect life all planned out and my list made.
And I guess deep down, I kind of expected that, like my parents, if something was really important to me, God would come through and help to make it happen.
Again, maybe a little spoiled.
But I’d read verses like…
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11
God gives good gifts to His children. But I’ll be honest I was afraid there would be nos because I’d looked around I knew life wasn’t all cupcakes and butterflies.
And because there’s this…
In this world, you will have trouble. John 16:33
It’s a conundrum, isn’t it? You and I make our list and ask God to get on board and help us make it happen. Then we look around and realize that lists don’t always get checked off they way we want them to . . . even for those who love God.
So, how are we supposed to understand God’s goodness when life doesn’t meet our expectations and we don’t get the gifts and blessings we want?
That’s where trust and surrender come in.
Did you ever ask for something your parents knew wasn’t safe or good for you? Have your children? Absolutely!
Love means saying “no” sometimes even when you know it will be hard to hear. And you want your children to trust the “no” they don’t want to hear really is coming from love and trust it’s for the best!
But I can be that spoiled child that stomps her feet and throws a tantrum. I haven’t always trusted God’s “no” was a blessing. I’ve felt sorry for myself. I’ve doubted.
You too?
That’s when I need to run back to His Word for a reminder of His love and goodness.
10 Verses to Remember God’s Gifts are Good
God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8
Surely your goodness and love will be with me all my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6
Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows. God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made. James 1:1
Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their work, which are gifts from God. Ecclesiastes 3:13
Jesus has the power of God, by which He has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know Him. Jesus called us by His glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3
Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace. 1 Peter 4:10
We know in everything God works for the good of those who love Him. Romans 8:28
And so we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. 1 John 4:16
Examine and see how good the Lord is. Happy is the person who trusts Him. Psalm 34:8
With God’s help, I’m praying to throw fewer tantrums.
With His help, I will remember how often He has turned bad into good in my life. How He has drawn me close and given me strength when I needed it. How He has delivered me from overwhelming fear, healed my broken heart, and given me peace and contentment.
I will remember God’s goodness and celebrate the perfect gifts He chooses for me whether they are on my list or not.
We would love to pray for you.
You can leave your prayer requests here…
and even take a few minutes to pray over the list left by our friends.
Never Miss an Update
Leave your email address and I’ll send you a short email every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to alert you to each new devotion. Plus you’ll receive a copy of 30 Ways to Bless Your Marriage and Keep the Spark Burning
I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi” and share your thoughts in the comments below.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…
Thanks again for visiting! Don’t forget to check out the links below to find additional posts that will bless you…
“How are we supposed to understand God’s goodness when life doesn’t meet our expectations and we don’t get the gifts and blessings we want?” Such an important question, Deb! I must constantly remind myself that any time my plans for myself don’t match God’s plans for me, it is always because His are better. I may not always see the “how” of the better right away, but I can always choose to trust the Who of the better. Thank you for this and for hosting, as always!
Elizabeth, I love that! “I may not always see the “how” of the better right away, but I can always choose to trust the Who of the better.” That’s the perfect way to remember it! Thanks so much for your encouragement and for joining the party.
His gifts and His plans are higher than anything we have ever expected. He is the GIFT!
Loved this and all the reminders. We are celebrating this weekend with our grandson who is turning 3 and I’ve bought way too many gifts.
Thanks for the link-up Deb. Have a great weekend.
This post is a gift! Especially the list of verses showing us some of God’s gifts to us!!
So, yesterday was a day where I was frustrated but there was literally NO reason to be overwhelmed. I think I even said to my kids… I am overwhelmed but I don’t know why and I need just some space to settle into grace.
The great thing is they had already seen the clouds forming, they were already giving me space and I’d like to think a few were praying for me. They were trying to make the atmosphere free of sparks.
While I hate that I am that easy to read, and that little things adding up can build a campfire, I love that He has worked out goodness in me over the years to let me be transparent and spill prayer requests in place of the tantrum that could unfold.
I don’t always do that. I don’t always heed His voice and seek Him in peaceful ways, but when I do… I am so thankful. Grateful to these people I love who also see me and love me so much that they don’t count it against me. I wish I were more like them, sometimes… a lot more like Jesus.
🙂 Romans 8;28 has been on my heavy heart a lot this morning. Your words are a good reminder. He is always always always good.
Blessings,
Dawn
I love this list of verses, Deb! So encouraging. I read through each one. One of our biggest challenges is remembering that God IS good, now and always. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Hey Deb. I totally believe that God in His love withholds from us that which will harm instead of help us.
I have also been meditating on this verse and believe God gave some much needed clarity. I think this “ask, seek, knock” passage has often been taught to mean that if we just ask long enough then what we want will come our way, but cross reference Luke 11:13. It says “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” I think this gives tremendous insight into what God’s “good gifts” really are… that is, His gift to us at salvation is the Holy Spirit and through Him he bestows on us all kinds of spiritual gifts, from discernment to conviction to empowerment etc. These are the gifts that He will gladly pour out on us every single time we position ourselves in humility before Him. What do you think? Thanks for your post!
Thank you for reminding us to trust His goodness! He is good – no matter what!
Thank you also for hosting the link up. I don’t always join in, but I am today!
Blessings~
Yes! God’s gifts are always, always better than any list we could come up with, Deb.
Blessings!
Such a great collection of encouraging verses. In this world we will have trouble, but in the middle of this trouble, we can be assured there are good gifts given by a loving God! Thank you, Deb! I so appreciate you for your continual encouragement and your welcoming place to come together in friendship and the Word of God!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Deb, I really needed to read your words today! I also have a tendency to have *moments* with the Lord when my life isn’t working out the way it’s “supposed to” – (at least according the me!) It’s difficult to remember that His gifts are good when bad things are happening. So, I appreciated your words, and the wonderful verses so full of Truth! God’s gifts are not only good, they’re perfect – even when they’re wrapped in trouble and suffering.
GOD BLESS!
(Thanks for featuring my blog this week! Henny Penny thought it was an egg-cellent idea! Sorry, I just had too…!)
Deb, Thank you for these encouraging words. It can be so easy to get distracted from the main thing when we want something so bad it hurts. Much to think about…
Blessings!
This is very timely for me. I think it can be one of the most difficult things to feel denial or delay from God, especially in any areas you feel He’s spoken a promise to you in. Finding healthy ways to process that – through prayer, through His word, through community – can be very challenging. Goes to show how much we need His grace in all things. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Micah! Standing with you in need of His grace-filled encouragement. Blessings to you!
For me I want to praise God for all, because it is all a gift. I pray to know and follow God’s will. The knowing is the hardest part, but I continue to pray and move forward. Life is truly good, all of it even the things I don’t like. Thanks for sharing on Let’s Get Real
It’s all a gift! That says it all, doesn’t it Karen? His love sustains me and helps me say, “It is well with my soul.”
For me … I, too, wanted to be a teacher and married. I not sure I thought about how many children, but I knew I’d have cats along with the kids. I imagined a cute little house with summer breezes blowing through the windows. Not everything worked out as I planned, at least not initially. But I have come to realize that God’s gifts are all good and His plans are always the best. Thanks for reminding me to be more thankful for it all!
I remember when I had my life all planned out! And then God made a completely different path for me – one that is so much better than I could have dreamed of! While I was disappointed and confused at first, in hindsight, I can see it was all for my best. Every single part.
Thanks for linking up with Grace and Truth.