I Will Never Stop Doing Good To You
March 26
Jeremiah 32:40 “I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.”
There were many self-inflicted difficult years in my addiction. At the worst and lowest parts of my addiction, I had convinced myself that God did not love me and that He did not care about me. He had turned His back on me and left me alone. I believed that God was punishing me with the addiction - that He enjoyed my suffering. (I was in a dark and scary place). My feelings of self-hatred and self-loathing at what I was doing and who I had become as an addict further solidified in my mind that God felt the same way about me. I couldn’t (and wouldn’t) see it then, but God was loving me. He was caring for me. He was guiding me and protecting me. I was so consumed in the addiction and just trying to survive that I wasn’t able to see that, and it was easier to believe God didn’t love me nor was He doing and being good.
When freedom from addiction finally came into my life, I was able to see more clearly that God indeed did love me and cared for me in all the years of the addiction. I had more clarity in seeing God was faithful to all of His promises to protect, guide, and bless even when I was unfaithful and disobedient to what He desired for my life. I was a prodigal son. I knew better than He did, and who else knew me better than I do? Who knew what I needed to be happy? Even in all that self-centered and selfish behavior, God was good. His character did not change even though mine was changing all the time. God was (and is) good all the time. My thoughts, feelings, and actions do not change who God is.
The last time I read through the Old Testament prophets in my daily devotional time, I was reminded of God’s heart for His people. Yes, God gets angry when His people seek their own way and turn from Him. He knows what is good for those He loves, and it displeases God when they (I) turn from Him. Countless times He warned them to turn from their sinfulness. They refused. He sent them into captivity. But, over and over He promised they would return and He would bless them tremendously. It is God’s heart to bless His people. It is His heart and character to do good. He is loving, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Nothing I have done - or will do - will ever change that. I see His goodness stamped all over my life. I see His perfect love. I see His unending mercy and grace. He is a good, good Father.