Have you ever asked yourself, why do I, why do people, struggle to receive good news? Who programmed us to be bad news magnets, that can handle the worst, but don’t believe the best? We do this with people, with places, with situations, with prophesy, with even the word of God. If something bad is spoken of, we believe it is possible, but if something good is said, we are reluctant to lean into it. Why is this?

I do not know that there is one answer to fit such a big question for a Monday morning, but what I do know is that we have space for information that fits our internal infrastructure. If we are accustomed to abuse, negativity, bad reports, unanswered prayers, struggles, poverty, whatever it is, when we hear bad news it just reinforces what we have already experienced. But God wants to remind us of something today.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only begotten Son…” Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” So…what if I told you the word of the Lord for right now is Isaiah 62:11-12 “Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, “Lo, your salvation comes; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.” And they will call them, “The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD”; And you will be called, “Sought out, a city not forsaken.”

Friends, the Lord is not waiting for you to get your act together, He is wanting you to realize you are His son, His daughter and He does not enjoy distance between us and Him. He says in Romans 2:4 “Can’t you see His kindness is intended to turn you from sin?” He is awakening us to His kindness, His goodness, His love for us. It is time to receive the good news, for He is pouring out His love so lavishly on us right now. All you have to do is believe the good news, lean into the nudge of His spirit and watch the shame wash off you in an instant. I hear the song, Oh, how He loves us!