Forever is a long time.

Supposedly nothing lasts forever.

Waiting can sure feel like forever.

I wonder how to measure “forever”. In years? Decades? Centuries?

Eternity?

Depending on what it is taking forever probably is the tool used for measurement.

This next verse to keep me in the thankfulness mindset has “forever” in mind.

1 Chronicles 16:34

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His lovingkindness endures forever.

AMP

Who doesn’t want lovingkindness to last forever? Be it love or kindness or both of them together or even the alternative word mercy .. I’ll take it.

Too much of life is not good.

Sickness is not good.

Death is the worst.

Pain is terrible.

Guilt is miserable.

Anger and jealousy are not fun.

Resentment and bitterness steal joy.

Discontent is horrible.

Disillusionment is the pits.

Discouragement takes time off the clock.

But goodness and mercy?

So sweet.

Pleasant.

Enjoyable.

Peaceful.

Relaxing.

Valuable.

Precious.

Encouraging.

Inspiring.

Revitalizing.

Healing.

But do we spend enough time reflecting on what is good?

Do we spend enough time reflecting on who is the giver and author of all good things?

When I’m downcast it is not easy to try to name, state, declare, or claim what is good in the middle or somewhat around my situation that is so bad.

If I’m being honest- it is almost darn near impossible.

However, that is where that intentionality in choosing an attitude of thanksgiving comes into play like we discussed yesterday…

Imagine this: imagine if I did make a decision to declare God’s goodness in the middle of my troubles, trials, and burdens.

What kind of difference do you think there would be?

Pause on that thought for a minute. Think of a person in your proximity that is going through some hard stuff….Imagine if they found something good to focus on even though life was quite the opposite.

Do you think they might respond even a smidge differently if they could do that?

I use the example of another person because it is WAY easier to look at someone else’s problems and think “if only they do such and such…” Right?

Now imagine it’s you.

What if you focused on the goodness of God when you are swirling around in the middle of a a life tsunami?

Could you do it?

Would you determine to try at least?

The mercy, lovingkindness, of the Lord that endures forever is truly something to be thankful for.

Have you felt His mercy?

Has there been time when you should have been crushed but you weren’t? Has there been a time when you should have fallen apart but something held you together?

That’s mercy.

It looks like a blue sky or a gorgeous sunset when you desperately needed to see one.

It sounds like the right song on the radio or your playlist at exactly the right time.

It feels like running into the perfect person to give you a perfectly timed hug when you least expected it but oh-so-needed it.

It smells like fresh air when you’ve been locked inside the hospital for far too long as you sit at your loved one’s bedside.

Mercy is good…and it endures forever.

When your eyes are suddenly opened to God’s goodness and lovingkindness you will keep seeing more and more of it in your life and around you – no matter what your circumstances are like.

A blatant refusal to see God’s goodness and grace will not place you in a position to receive or recognize His mercy. You won’t see it. You won’t feel it. You will not benefit from it.

I would rather receive what is being freely offered to me…. something that will not run out or end…. especially when times are hard. Even if it means I need to offer up a sacrifice of praise through thanksgiving.

But….I need to acknowledge the goodness of God first so I can be thankful for it.

Acknowledge. Give thanks. Receive.

Why not give it a try today?