One of my favourite song lyrics is Rend Collective’s line ‘You are good when life is not.’ (‘I Choose To Worship’) A friend of mine made me a plaque with the line on it which sits above the fire in my living-room. Each morning as I pray, I look at the plaque and remind myself of God’s goodness. It’s a vital part of my morning routine, as crucial as brushing my teeth, washing or drinking that first cup of coffee! Charlie Cleverly said of the difficulty many of us have in believing in God’s goodness, “Many feel uncertain and that they have developed a kind of Achilles’ heel in this area, so need daily doses of realisation of the constant covenant love and good intentions of God for them.” (‘Epiphanies of the Ordinary’) My plaque acts as that daily dose, that daily reminder, necessary to help me live by the truth of Psalm 119:68: ‘You are good, and what You do is good.’

Sadly, we now live in a world that is no longer wholly good. Sin has damaged and distorted God’s good creation. Every day, people do wicked and evil things. We can easily feel helpless and hopeless as tragedies unfold. Mindless violence wrecking lives. Innocent children killed and injurged. Illness felling people. The sheer awfulness of life can be overwhelming at times.

Yet God is good when life is not. God is working for good in the lives of those whom He has called. (Rom 8:28) He has the ability to bring good out of the most horrible situations. (Gen 50:20) Good will flourish. Good will triumph. John 1:5 says that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

How do we live in a world full of sorrow, pain and grief? We don’t deny those realities. But in the words of another Rend Collective song, ‘Though sorrow is real, You won’t let it break us.’ (‘True In The Light’) We look to God, the source of all that is good; to God, who is love, to help us and to give us hope, purpose, comfort and strength to live as His people, wherever we are, and whatever comes our way.

In our conclusion to the series ‘Living According To God’s Ways’, we looked at congruence in how we live. Congruence is harmony, with synonyms ‘to be compatible with, to be in agreement or accord with, to conform with.‘ A congruent life means there is no dissonance or difference between what we believe and how we live. When we live according to God’s ways, there will be wholeness and blessing.

To live like this means attitudes and actions become united, and we live out our faith with joy and peace. We develop deep roots so that we thrive rather than merely surviving (see Col 2:6-7) and allow God’s word to have authority over us, even if this means contradicting our own feelings or desires. We live according to God’s word, practising love and forgiveness, showing grace and mercy, because in this, we reflect God’s own character. Drivers know that if a vehicle is misaligned, there will be additional wear and tear on tyres and reduced fuel efficiency. When we are aligned with God’s will and live according to what He says and promises, then we can experience the fulness of life which Jesus spoke about in John 10:10.

Knowing what God promises and claiming these promises (see 2 Cor 1:20, Ps 119:41) is the key to living with hope and confidence. Some promises include salvation, relying on God’s unfailing love (see 1 John 4:16, Jer 31:3) and His provision in all circumstances. (Phil 4;19)

Congruence – that living-according-to-God’s-word-and-ways, that harmony which stops us being hypocrites but makes us authentic disciples of Jesus Christ – is what the world needs to see. We’re tired of people who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. We’re tired of our idols who only have feet of clay. There is a desperation in our generation, a desperation for authenticity and integrity and love and hope. As we are transformed into the image of God through our vulnerability, brokenness and faith, our lives gradually become brighter and more beautiful, precisely because God enters our lives, coming to dwell with us by His Spirit. Then we can shine brightly for God, becoming that city on a hill which will draw people to the Lord Himself. Never doubt the influence and impact ordinary people living according to God’s ways can have. We can change the world, not by ourselves, but by the power of God.

Although our Parent & Toddler group doesn’t meet in the school holidays, we are involved in lots of things this summer.

Join us at the Picnics in the Park on Wednesday 31 July, 7 August and 28 August – no need to book, just bring a picnic and blanket and come along! There will be activities, games, face painting and free water, fruit and ice-creams for children, thanks to funding from the Dearne Ward Alliances and the Snap Tin Community Hub.

Come along to DCAF’s ‘Goldthorpe By The Sea’ family fun event on Monday 19 August between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. when there will be water and sand play, a bouncy castle, seaside crafts and games and a puppet theatre to keep us entertained. Tickets cost £3 per person (£10 for a family of up to 5 people) and all monies go towards keeping the Dearne Community Arts’ Festival free to attend. Booking essential; lunch provided..

Dearne Churches Together is hosting a ‘Think Resilient!’ session for 7-15 year olds led by Peer Educator Eva Roberts to help young people develop strategies for thinking positively and coping with emotional and mental stress on Wednesday 21 August between 11.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. Booking required; limited numbers available. Lunch provided.