EquippedMama

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

James 1:16-18 Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Everybody likes getting gifts. If you ask a child her favorite holiday, more often than not, she will say Christmas, because it is the season of receiving presents. And if we’re honest, we as parents are probably thinking the exact same thing. Everybody loves a surprise that doesn’t show up on their credit card statement.

God, as our good Father, also loves to give us good gifts. In one of his teaching segments recorded in Scripture, Jesus shares how God gives His people what is good for them, much like our earthly family does as well.

 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Matthew 7:11 NASB

Sometimes God gives us a gift we want. Sometimes a longing for a child is realized. Sometimes we get the raise we prayed for. Sometimes God gives us a gift that we didn’t want. Perhaps God gives us a chance to grow in intimacy with Him through a difficult diagnosis. Perhaps we are gifted deep peace as we weather a season of unemployment. God’s gifts are always good, even if they don’t feel good.

Our capacity to receive God’s good gifts well depends on our trust of His character and His heart. As we learn to trust who He is, we are able to see every gift He gives as truly good.

As we enjoy the moments where we can bless our children with the things they desire we should stop and thank God for His good gifts to us. And the love He has for us, that motivates Him to be generous towards us.