Goodness, You Are Good

Paco and I just finished up a marriage Sunday school class last weekend based on Paul Tripp's book, What Did You Expect?

Here's my honest, gut reaction:  "OW."  As in big-time-curled-up-in-the-fetal-position-"ow".

This was all about relationships.  Of course, we all know that marriage equals relationships.  But it goes way deeper than that.  It's more than quick fixes that gloss over the real problems in marriages.  When our individual relationships with God have gotten out of order, our marriages will follow suit.  That seems like a no-brainer, right?  But there's more, so much more.

As all of us couples were sitting next to each other in that room, watching the DVD and discussing later, we all playfully elbowed or winked at each other, even quietly giggling at some inside joke,  but I know that in my heart, something was being stirred up in a big way, not just for my marriage, but in my relationship with God.

Let me tell you why.  Look up Psalm 119:13-16 with me, won't you?

13 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb,

14  I praise you because I am fearfully

and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15  My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret 

place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16  your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Most of the time, I think of those verses as something I use to pray over my babies, born and unborn.  But Mr. Tripp brought another realization to me.  This is a song of praise to our Creator (I know, I know, obvious, but stick with me on this.) and it refers to each one of us being knit together in our mother's wombs.  This does not just refer to my children, or your's, or your friend's.  Wives, mothers, beloved friends everywhere, hear my heart on this.  These verses are talking about your husband... and you.

And He pronounced both of you good.

We are all born with those little idiosyncrasies that are laughed about or at, at which eyes are rolled or sighs are heartily heaved.

And yet, He still pronounced you good.


This has to do with not getting frustrated at the little things that your husband has no control over, those little quirks that you love in him (most of the time).  God put them in your hubby... on purpose.  He put in Paco a desire to eat sandwiches or pizza for breakfast rather than "regular" breakfast food.  He can't help that.  He also hates flip flops with the little thing that goes between his toes.  Can he help that?  No.  That's the way God made him and if I criticize him for those things, I'm criticizing my Creator. (I'm not thinking this is something I'm interested in doing.  Are you?) 


Granted, these are very small, insignificant things, but I just wanted to give you an idea what I mean.  I could go spilling all his little secrets on here, but then he'd try to do the same to me and my quirks are way worse than his, so we'll leave it at the breakfast food and flip flop quirks, alright?

What struck me in this, though, was not only that pronounced my hubby good, he pronounced sinful, messy, disorganized me as good, too.

He made me this way on purpose.  I'm loud, expressive, disorganized, sassy and transparent for a reason.  I don't have to try to be anyone else because I think they're better than I.

I am good the way I am, but not because of anything I have done.  No, it's because of His grace and design for me.  I'm not uber-organized or laid back as some of the beautiful, admirable women in my life.  And I never will be because that's not how I was wired.

There is freedom, liberty, and beauty in knowing and accepting that.

You are who you are supposed to be.  For a reason.  Live in freedom and liberty, sweet friends.

You are good.  He pronounced that over you.

May I agree with Him?

You are good.



















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