God Did Good

He did good ... filling our hearts with food and gladness. Acts 14:17

God did good! He did good because that is His nature. He's not a celestial killjoy but a caring Father who desires every good thing for us. He longs for us to come to enjoy everything pertaining to life and godliness. Enjoying another person is a special part of God's plan for marriage. God "did good" when He created your spouse just for you.

Decades of married life have challenged not only our spiritual walk but also our concept of God. If He's distant and disengaged, then His personal and specific care can be questioned. If He's on a perfectionist inspection tour—hiding at every turn ready to jump out at us with judgment—then we can question His motives for creating us. But if His heart's longing is for our good, then the wonder of God reshapes our lives and helps us to see every aspect of our lives and our relationships differently. Seeing Him differently, for who He really is, leads to seeing our spouses differently. This leads to seeing our spouses as good gifts from Him.

Many couples come to our conferences thinking that marriage is to be tolerated at best. Coping is the most they hope for. But into this attitude of mediocrity and complacency comes a God who desires to give life and give it abundantly. This doesn't mean special protection from problems, but it means joy, peace, and liberty in the midst of them. Part of His plan for such abundance is the divine relationships through which He works—marriage, the family, and the church.

We can be grateful for His goodness in giving us those relationships, and we can start by thanking Him for our spouses.

For what specifically about your spouse can you give thanks to God today?

Thanks, heavenly Father, for being a good God!