There will be times when you will experience painful experiences, have people more than ready to criticise you, and feel the effect of other trials. Jesus even said there would be, so we shouldn’t be surprised when we face these things. But He also said that He had overcome these trials for us and that if we stay vitally connected to Him, we will be able to walk in victory through every circumstance life may try to throw at us.
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:3)
One of the ways you can learn to keep walking through and overcome negative or painful circumstances is to train your eyes to see the good in your day.
When you focus your attention on the goodness of God and begin seeking out and looking for the good things you will soon realise that there is evidence of God’s goodness and kindness towards you everywhere. Even when it seems that no good can come of a situation, God, if you are looking, will surprise you by revealing just how He has been working all the time behind the scenes on your behalf and with your best in mind.
However, it takes practice and a renewed mindset to begin looking for the good rather than focusing upon the bad. Some people may think that it is just “putting your head in the sand” and not facing facts, but when we know God and His Word, any contrary facts have to line up with the truth of His word and bring change to things that previously looked hopeless.
I encourage you to start to retrain yourself to expect God’s favour and goodness towards you every day.
Some helpful ways I have discovered to look for the good are:
1. Keep your eyes and ears on God’s Word to build your faith and expectation for God’s favour and blessing to pour into your life.
“So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17)
2. Give God your cares and concerns, and then leave them with Him. It’s hard to see the good when you are weighed down with burdens and worries.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
3. Spend time talking to God in prayer and then declaring what He says about your life, rather than focusing and repeating the negatives or what others or the world are saying.
“And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14: 13-14)
4. Honour even the smallest good thing in your life. Don’t take God’s blessings for granted.
“Give the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendour of [His] holiness.” (Psalm 29:2)
“Honour the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce.” (Proverbs 10:9)
5. Look for the “silver lining” in situations, and remember that God has promised that all things work together for good for those who love Him. Somewhere, somehow good will come.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)
Today, even if you can only see a tiny sliver of joy and blessing choose to acknowledge and honour God for it. As you do, you’ll soon be seeing goodness all around you as you train your eyes, heart and mind to focus on the good things, and to expect God’s daily favour to be made evident in your life.
Prayer: Lord, help me retrain my eyes, heart, and mind to see all the good parts of my life. Would you please help me become someone who easily sees the good and that it becomes an everyday expectation to daily experience your favour? In Jesus name Amen.