Your Actual Life

#51

Friend,

“You must find the goodness of God in your actual life.” Bishop Todd Hunter.

I heard this quote on a podcast from John Mark Comer, and I thought of you.

I don’t know why we are so drawn to negativity, so caught up in the cycle of not enough, so easily moved to anger and so challenged to move to delight.

You’ve caught yourself recently thinking about all those things that could have or should have been. The disappointment you feel is real, but dwelling on it is deadly.

That’s why I love/hate this quote for you.

“You must find the goodness of God in your actual life.” Not the life you hoped to live, but never happened. Not in the life that someone else is living, and you are trying to live vicariously through them. Not in the life you still hope to live, but is yet to be determined. You must find the goodness of God in your actual life.

Let me tell you one of the underrated keys to life: You are most likely to find something if you look for it.

• If you want to find that book you loved 5 years ago, you have to look for it on the shelf.

• If you want to find out how an old friend is doing, you have to look them up.

• If you want to find the best dishwasher, you have to do your research.

And if you want to find the goodness of God, you have to look for it.

I love the way the Message translation says Jeremiah 29:13, “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

So, I want to invite you to pause right now and look around. Look for the goodness of God in your life and be thankful for your actual life.

And I’m thankful for you, my friend.

Love,

Aaron