Goodness of God…
Farming is tough. There are so many days where I am ready to just throw in the towel. Does this surprise you? If you live on a farm, then I am pretty positive it does not. We all post pictures of the “perfect” parts. The sunrises, the sunsets . . . the new births of all the different critters and all the good things in between. We post photos of the happy moments when everyone is smiling, and the sun is shining. But what about the other times? We don’t talk about those much, do we? And of course, we don’t. Why would we? We don’t post those on social media because they hurt. Those times come with mud on our faces, blood on our hands, life leaving a precious baby you just couldn’t save . . . And it hurts. It hurts to the core. Even as I sit here and type this, it brings tears to my eyes because I can’t help but think about hard parts we’ve endured here on our farm. Life is real y’all. It’s so real and it’s so raw.
Those parts are so important too though. They are part of what makes us who we are. They are part of what paints the whole picture. It takes the ugly parts along with the pretty parts to create the full masterpiece. If you know me, you know that even in the midst of the trials and the “hard stuff” I find joy. Even through the tears and the mud and blood and the sad and the sweat and the hard and the awful and the pain, yes - I. Find. Joy.
You’re probably thinking now, “Whoooaaaa, ok this lady is crazy! How can you find joy in the middle of losing a life in your hands?”
It’s not easy. It takes practice. You have to choose it and choose it with all you can find in your mind and body and spirit and soul and all that you can muster up in that moment. And I don’t mean joy like you’re smiling and jumping up and down and excited. Joy has many meanings. Joy is something you find on the inside and it can still be there even through the tears and pain. You have to dig deep and there is only one thing I can even point to in order to explain it. What is this magic thing, you might ask?
Jesus.
That’s how it’s possible.
The sheer goodness of God.
All my life God has been faithful to me. Even in the hard stuff. The worst times. The ugly parts you don’t want to post on social media or talk about, but they still happen. When we don’t post those parts, are we hiding part of our true self and life experiences? Are we telling others that they are alone in what they are going through?
Hmmmm. Never really looked at it that way.
I really don’t think it matters who’s farm you visit; they’re going to have these stories and scars and wounds. And that’s ok. It’s ok to have feelings and emotions and pain and tears. Let me just say that again for those of you in the back – It’s ok to have hurts! It’s ok to have tears! This just means you’re human. You’re human and you’re living life. No, let me rephrase that. You’re not just living life . . . you’re experiencing life. And what is life if you don’t have experiences? Because that’s how we build. I have heard many a farmer tell me that they learned more from their mistakes and the bad things that happen than from their successes. In the midst of it all though, what is there at the core?
There is God.
Personally speaking, if it weren’t for the blessings of God in my life, if it weren’t for following Him and seeking Him in prayer for His will that we should follow, then I wouldn’t be here in the first place.
Bad things happen. But you can still choose to fill your heart with joy even in the midst of those bad things. Change your perspective and thank God for all that He has provided. Remind yourself of the blessings that abound around you.
Look, I get it. I’ve been there. When you watch every penny and count every nickel assuming you even have two to rub together. I’ve been in those moments of loss and exhaustion and even those moments where everything I have just doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to be enough. It’s in those moments that you have to find that thing that is deep within you, find God, and remember how much He loves you.
Remember the goodness of God.
To quote the words of one of my favorite songs, I really just want to share these lyrics with you . . .
I love you, Lord.
For Your mercy never fails me.
All my days
I’ve been held in Your hand.
From the moment that I wake up,
Until I lay my head,
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.
‘Cause all my life You have been faithful.
And all my life You have been so, so good.
With every breath that I am able,
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of the God.
I love Your voice.
You have led me through the fire.
In darkest nights,
You are close like no other.
I’ve known You as a Father,
I’ve known you as a friend,
And I have lived in the good of God.
Cause all my life you have been faithful.
And all my life you have been so, so good.
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.
Your goodness is running after, is running after me.
With my life laid down,
I surrender now,
I give You everything, oh Lord.
Your goodness is running after, is running after me.
I’m here for you brothers and sisters, fellow farmers, and those who are still on their paths of the dream that God has given you for your life. May God bless each one of you. I never know exactly who I am praying for when I pray but let me pray for you now . . .
“God, you know the need, you know the reader, you know whose heart has been touched by these words and what their heart is crying out to you for. Bless them Father. Be with them in their times of sadness and help them find their joy. Help them remember You in every moment. Help them when they are in the midst of the ugly parts to see that You are still there, and You are still good. Help them realize that your goodness is running after them. With every breath let them praise your name and remember that you are a Father, you are a friend, and that you hear them. God hold them in Your hands from the moment their eyes open each morning, until they close at night, and then through their sleeping. God be with us and help us to always find joy in the midst of our trials. We love you, Lord. Amen.”
Always remember friend, sing of the goodness of God. Find your joy and don’t let go. We’re all doing this thing called life together. I see you and I understand your struggles. God bless each of you.
Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalms 27:13-14
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.