I answered the phone to a shocking accusation. Since the caller addressed me by name, I assumed she thought she had both the right person and the correct story. Her continuous string of anger assaulted my ears. She didn’t dare take a breath as she continued her toxic tirade. One thing became abundantly clear: she was hurting. Hurting deeply. And, she needed someone to blame.
I knew she wouldn’t be open to my side on the story, of how I had nothing to do with her current plight. When she finally gasped for air, I quickly interjected, “Ma’am, I am so sorry for your pain.”
Silence.
Then a softer voice simply said, “Thank you.”
Now, I’m no angel. She caught me on a good day when I first had Bible study and praying with Jesus prior to her phone call. I can’t promise another day I would respond the same. But I do thank the Lord for His Holy Spirit and His gift of goodness.
Dictionary.com defines goodness as “The quality of being morally good or virtuous.” We know no one is perfect. Only God has perfect goodness, also known as virtuous or righteousness.
But Matthew 7 encourages us with the promise that believers are grafted into the good tree of good fruit. Romans 15:14 assures us because we’re in Jesus, we are full of goodness. Thankfully, this is due to the Holy Spirit’s gifting found in Galatians 5. When we have access to His gift, we need to use it. That is when we need to make a choice.
When someone is hard to love or serve, do I let the hurt jab or stab me into silence? Do I let my pride or sense of justice dictate my response? Or do I choose to act from a place of goodness?
God is the epitome of goodness. He chooses to approach me, and you, with goodness and grace. Shouldn’t we approach each other in the same vein?
It’s hard.
I know.
Thankfully God knows it’s hard for us. Romans 12:21 gives us the recipe of how to overcome hard things, even, evil things: by doing good.
If that’s not always been your knee-jerk reaction, you’re not alone. It certainly isn’t mine, either. But I have found when I yield to the Holy Spirit- and get myself out of the way- He can work through me.
And someone who’s in pain, whose path crossed mine- maybe, just maybe, has her pain acknowledged and her heart lightened just a bit by an act of goodness.
If you, like me, struggle to often respond in goodness, we can ask God for help. He has promised the gift of goodness and to supply our needs. Let’s ask Him to help us consistently respond out of goodness.
Prayer: Dear Lord, You know me. You know my heart. You also know my knee-jerk responses. And, You know the heart and responses don’t always align. Please help me respond out of Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.