Monday, June 22, 2015

Disturbing Goodness

I get a huge thrill from speaking into a microphone.
I considered sneaking away during a recent church "work day” to avoid…work. These are things that while true, most would not express. They may even disturb you. But these things are true.

At graduation, a student told me there were days this last year they would not have made it without me.  

I was paralyzed.  I honestly didn't know what to say or how to react.  It was disturbing. It was true.

I knew I had encouraged this student.  I knew God allowed me to be a part of their sanctification process.  The student didn’t realize that my faith was being renewed just as much as theirs.

I was completely inept to give any response in that moment because I wasn't yet able to recognize that encouraging comment as God's goodness.  God’s goodness can be disturbing.  God has used me to disturb this student’s life with His goodness. Now, they were simply returning the favor.

These things are true. God is good. God is disturbing. His goodness disturbs us at moments we don’t expect and in ways we do not expect.  These moments are disturbing. I expect His goodness for others. I anticipate mediocrity for myself.


"My desire to feel the power of God's grace conquering the pride and selfishness in my life inclines me to behavior that demonstrates the victory of grace, namely, love.  Genuine love is so contrary to human nature that it's presence bears witness to an extraordinary power." -John Piper, Desiring God