How do we know God's will is good?

As followers, we know God is the very definition of goodness. He is love (1 John 4:7-12). But often, we believe that our chaotic circumstances and hard parts of life point to a God who doesn't love us, who doesn't care.

So, we have to ask ourselves: is He right, or are we?

Jesus assured us that we would have hardships in this life (John 16:33). But He also assured us that He would be with us "until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20).

As fallen creatures, we have a knack for forgetting this, and instead, listen to Satan's whispers that maybe God doesn't really love us. Maybe he doesn't really care.

But as followers we know the real truth: through our suffering and struggles, God sanctifies us like gold refined in fire.

If we always received all the things we think we want and "deserve," we'd never grow.

We'd stay stagnant, or even worse–become the dead limb that Jesus removes from the tree and throws into the fire (John 15:5-7).

So, it's up to us to renew our thinking each day. We must see the storms around us knowing God didn't put them in our way to destroy us but to redeem us, making us whole through our hardships and giving us the opportunity to only depend on Him for our peace (Mark 4:35-41).

This journal exercise will help you to reflect on how God has been good to you this past year. Use this as a reminder that even through the hard, He is helping and providing you with good, joyful things.