SEEING GOD’S GOODNESS IN EVERY SEASON
Diana Ordonez
Today's Scripture: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8, ESV
Theme: Look for the good in this season, in your extended family, across party lines, in other communities, and in your neighbors – no matter their beliefs or politics.
FOCUS ON WHAT IS GOOD
When my otherwise healthy and young husband, Juan, left for the hospital in March 2020, I didn’t know it would be the last time I would see him. It was the start of the pandemic lockdown, and fear, anger, and division were spreading like wildfire. The loss, isolation, and chaos surrounding me felt overwhelming. In those early days, I stayed home with our four-year-old daughter, desperately praying for Juan’s healing and return. But amidst the uncertainty, I knew one thing: I had to fix my eyes on God.
The day Juan was placed on a ventilator, and all communication with him was lost, I felt a weight I can hardly describe. After putting our daughter to bed, I turned to Facebook Live, inviting others to join me in prayer and worship at 9 p.m. every night until Juan would come home. That simple invitation was a lifeline. I stopped watching the news. I avoided conversations full of statistics and fear. Why? Because I knew I wouldn’t find God there.
Instead, I found God in the moments of kindness, in the people dropping off food, in those who prayed with me each night, in the nurses who showed compassion, and in the friends who circled the hospital in cars, praying for Juan. I saw God's goodness in all that was honorable, pure, and worthy of praise. The more I looked for Him, the more I found Him.
When Juan passed away—just before Easter and days before my daughter’s fifth birthday—I felt like the ground had vanished beneath me. Yet, even in my grief, I knew that focusing on God’s goodness would anchor me. So, I began a gratitude practice, shifting my focus back to all that was true, noble, and praiseworthy. And as I did, I saw God again in the faces of those supporting me, in the blessings I still had, and in the love that surrounded me.
What research shows—and what I’ve experienced firsthand—is that fear and gratitude cannot coexist. When we intentionally choose to focus on gratitude, it shifts our perspective. The more we focus on the goodness of God, the more we see it reflected in our lives. To truly focus on these things, as Philippians 4:8 calls us to do, is not just to think about them, but to feel the gratitude for having them in our lives. This practice transforms how we see the world around us.
We are all made in the image of God, and His goodness is in each of us. What we focus on grows. When we choose to see God in the people and circumstances around us, He will reveal Himself in incredible ways.
Make It Personal: Where in your life can you shift your focus to God? Where have fear, anger, or division taken hold of your heart? How can you intentionally look for God in those people or situations and lean into gratitude?
Pray: Dear Lord, help me see Your face in all areas of my life. Guide me to love people the way You do and trust that You are always in control. Thank You for shaping me into who You’ve called me to be. I’m grateful for the blessings You’ve placed in my life—the beauty in nature, the laughter of loved ones, the breath in my lungs, and the voice to praise You. Even when hope feels lost, I trust that You are at work, making all things new. Amen.
Read: Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:13, Genesis 1:27
Weekly Memory Verse: “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” I Peter 2:17, ESV