14 The LORD upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.
20 The LORD preserves all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever.—Psalm 145:14-21
As I read the above verses, my heart rejoiced and my spirit was glad. Despite my sins, despite my failures, despite my fears and my lack of faith....I can look back over the course of my life and see His goodness and mercy toward me. God does what He says...He can be trusted. I have been pursued by the Old Testament equivalent of Romans 8:28.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.—Psalm 23:6
I have read that the word “surely” in this verse can be translated only. So “only” goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. I can’t outrun them. They will always overtake me. What concerns me now in this moment, will be seen as His goodness and mercy when in the future I look back on it.
My spirit testifies that this is true. As I look back over my life this morning, I can thank Him even for my worst trials because He, by His gracious Spirit living in me, has transformed them. He has made them beautiful blessings by filling them with the light of His love.
So this morning then too, I will give Him thanks. I KNOW I will yet praise Him who is the help of my countenance and my God. In heaven, ALL WILL BE CLEAR. For now I see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. There I will see all through His eyes. There as I look back over my life here, I will see the exceeding and eternal weight of glory that my light affliction was working for me and my voice will be lifted up in praise.
For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17 NKJV)
