I’m Good!

In our village, we have a shop run entirely by volunteers. So, on Friday morning, after I’d finished all my week’s shopping in town, I popped into the shop for my last purchases and was greeted by name by my friend, followed by the usual, “How are you?”
Well, I was feeling happy that I had done all my shopping and was on my way home, and it was a lovely sunny day and today was Friday and the weekend was coming ... so my response was particularly enthusiastic as I answered, “I’m good!”

My friend who was serving me said she was well too, thank you. But she seemed rather quiet and reflective as she totted up my milk and eggs. And then she turned to me and said, thoughtfully, “I don’t think you can say you are ‘good’”. The Bible says that none of us are good. No, not one. We can’t please God. So, you shouldn’t say, “I’m good!”

I’d left my purse in the car, so I went out and fetch it. As I went, I thought to myself, “No, that’s not right. There’s more to it than that I am a miserable sinner. I’m a child of God. He made me. Jesus died for me and I am forgiven”.

When I returned to pay for my shopping, I came back with more of a response to my friend who was serving me (she is a good friend and a Christian). I was thinking of Psalm 139 where it describes how God made me, every detail with love and care and intricacy. He never leaves me. He is always there, wherever I go, watching over me and loving me. He knew me from the very moment of my conception, and He knows every day and moment of my life before any one of them has even happened. And when God finished making me, He liked what He had made. He likes me.

God loves me so much that Jesus died for me. I’m forgiven. When he looks on me, He sees His beloved child. I’m one of God’s kids. And He has exciting plans and purposes for my life and wants me to fulfil the destiny He has for me in His kingdom. And whatever that looks like, it will be a me-shaped purpose and fulfilment of who I really am, as God made me to be.

After living for years in self rejection, I now know that I can love me for who God made me to be, because God accepts me and loves me just as I am. So, next time you ask me how I am, I shall still respond with enthusiasm and affirmation, “I’m good”, and I shall love it because that’s how God sees me.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You were delighted when You made me, and through Jesus I have become one of Your kids and can know Your love and acceptance, and I can love myself. Amen.