By Paula Williamson, guest writer I have been around people who brace themselves for what’s about to happen, even when things are going well. Their view of God seems to be that He stands by, waiting to pull the rug out from under them. What a misconception! It Is Written MATTHEW 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Creation Speaks Any parent planning a birthday for their child offers a glimpse of God’s love for us. No birthday party has been as grand as the world God created for us. Each sunrise and sunset speaks of His faithfulness. Every season brings new surprises. At the close of each day, the sky is filled with twinkling stars and a holy silence. God is good. Prayer Lord, help us let go of misconceptions about You and, with childlike faith, believe You are good and want only the best for us. Help us not to blame You for the bad things that happen in life and in the world around us. Help us to have a correct view of You. Takeaway God is good.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Did you know that much counseling and ministry focus on early life? Imagine preschool- and elementary-age kids forming the foundation of our lives. Let that sink in. We often project onto God the roles our authority figures played when we were children. If we had controlling, authoritarian parents, we tend to view God through that lens. He is not them. It Is Written JOHN 3:16 AMP "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world, that He even gave His One and only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him as Savior shall not perish, but have eternal life." Truth God is love. His very nature is love. I used to think He held a standard so high that I could never please Him, a view I picked up from my mom. He does not sit in heaven waiting to mark our mistakes with a big red pencil. Everything He does flows from unconditional love for us. Prayer Lord, we forgive those who taught us a false view of You. We forgive ourselves for all the years we spent blaming You for things that were not Your fault. Help us to have an accurate view of You. Remove the lies we have believed. Help us to know You as You truly are. Takeaway God is love.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer There are no mistakes in God’s kingdom. His word says that children are a blessing from the Lord. Either that is true or it is a lie, and if it is a lie, the whole Bible is a lie. God’s plan is wonderful, perfect, and complete. Each person was created for a purpose. Have you ever been in the presence of a child who asked, “But why?” after every answer to their question? It Is Written PSALMS 139:14 -16 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. No Mistakes Believing that we were fearfully and wonderfully made and that God’s works are marvelous is a wonderful place to rest. God does not make mistakes. Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. We may never get an answer to why, because we probably would not understand, and we are not at the end of our story. We can trust that God is loving; He sees all, knows all, and has a plan for what looks like chaos to us. Instead of asking why, ask what now? What am I here for? Prayer Lord, help me trust Your goodness even when I do not understand. Help me find a place of rest in Your goodness. Help me run to You when the storm feels too big, too overwhelming, too impossible. Help me realize I am not at the end of my story. Help me trade fear for faith. Takeaway God makes no mistakes.