God is Good

I woke up this morning very emotional. Yes, most girls are emotional, but I pride myself in my steadiness and my infrequency of tears. The last two days, however, have been markedly different from my normal "I can handle this" attitude.

This change has no doubt come from the fact that my plans to leave the US and teach in Papua New Guinea were made final this week. This big decision has almost made me bipolar! Sometimes I am ready to get on a plane and just get there! To be a part of God's work in PNG and meet the little munchkins I will soon call my class.

Just when I am feeling good about it all, however, I am reminded of how much I will miss my life here. Hearing a friend's laugh, working alongside coworkers who let me be my crazy self, or listening to a song will send me into a tailspin of doubts.

Yes, I cried for 30 minutes last night trying to imagine what life will be like far away from all I hold dear. Where Internet is unreliable or expensive, late night talks with my roommates, and walks in downtown Salem will be nonexistent. How will I cope?

Well, my gracious Heavenly Father is so good to me. Just when I thought He didn't see my tears, He placed His hand on me. The classroom I substitute taught in today had a student teacher to help me. She and I started talking about future plans and she mentioned that she wanted to teach overseas eventually.

"Really?" I asked, "That's what I will be doing next year." She asked where I was going and I told her, "Papua New Guinea."

She smiled and said, "That's where I grew up! I love it there!"

God knew.

This precious college student went on to tell me that she was an MK with New Tribes Mission and lived in a village in the highlands (where I will also be living). We were able to discuss people, places, and my beloved PNG beef crackers! :)

God knew I needed this chance meeting on this difficult day. God knew exactly what would encourage my fearful heart and give me courage to continue with this adventure.

He Knows My Name

Psalm 139 describes the depth to which God knows me.

Verse one says that He knows how hard it is for me to get up in the morning: "You know when I sit down and when I rise up..."

Verse two reveals that my mess of wavering thoughts are no surprise to Him: " You understand my thought from afar...."

He knows why I do the things I do, what motivates me: "And are intimately acquainted with all my ways..."

My God knows how hard it is to control my tongue sometimes: "Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all..."

He knows my future and guides me. There is never a place or time that I am outside of His notice: "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there..."

This Psalm reminds me that my Heavenly Father knows the Melissa that no one else sees, and still loves me: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts..."

He thinks of me often, when I feel that no one else does: "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!"

I praise God with the Psalmist: "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it."


My God knows how I work and how I think. He knows how I need to be lead as a shepherd leads His sheep. This is how the Lord has been leading me lately. He has been revealing how intricately He knows me while challenging me to walk in the way everlasting. I pray that you, too, will know this kind of intimacy with your Creator and allow His gentle hand to lead you.

The Word

Remember growing up in Sunday school, the teacher would ask a question and the answer always seemed to be “The Bible!?” From years spent in AWANA clubs, the familiar lines to this song still ring in my mind:

“Read your Bible, pray everyday

And you’ll grow...grow...grow.

Read your Bible, pray everyday

And you’ll grow...grow...grow.”

As children, we spent each week familiarizing ourselves with the great stories of old and identifying with the heroes of the faith. We memorized large portions of Scripture to recite in front of the class or to earn points for prizes at the student store. Even into adolescents, we continued saturating ourselves with this book called God’s Word, hoping to be rewarded with blessings for our hard work.

Well, do you know what I’ve found? While my heart might not have been in the right place, I have been blessed—immensely. While I was reading, studying, and memorizing the Bible, God was teaching me about His character. He was establishing trust with me through the many promises of His Word. He was drawing me to Himself and speaking tenderly to my heart through His softly spoken words.

Just glancing at Psalm 119, I am reminded of the preciousness of God’s written Word to us.

It is our strength...”My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” (vs. 28)

It is our direction...”Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (vs.105)

It is our delight...”How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (vs. 103)

It keeps us from sin...”How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” (vs. 9)

It is our hope...”Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.” (vs. 43)

It gives us understanding...”The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (vs. 130)

It is eternal...”Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (vs. 89)

My heart is overflowing with thankfulness to God this morning for the gift of His Word. It is so true that He has “granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3) It is through this wonderful book that we grow in our knowledge of our great God, to the praise of His glory!