This

This is the Lord's doing.  Psalm 118:23 NLT

This, this, is the Lord's doing. And isn't it all His doing? We don't want to acknowledge that, because if we believed that this hard thing or this one, was His doing, how could we trust Him? How could children dying or houses burning, how could parent's illnesses or an endless search for a job, or spouse, be His doing?!? He's supposed to be good, isn't He?? And none of those things feel good.
Not heartache.
Not loss.
Not fear.
Not doubt.
Not loneliness.
Or hopelessness.
Yet Scripture has the audacity to say: " Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!" (Psalm 118:29 NLT)
Good.
With an exclamation point.
Good!
I stop to consider my grandson, who at the ripe age of three, has asked for a cookie. A cookie looks good to him. He has tasted them, enjoyed them and he just knows, this cookie will be good too. And his mama, who loves him, who fashioned him in her womb, within her heart, knows, that a cookie is not what he needs now. He needs his supper of rice and beans. He needs the protein, the filling-up of his tummy, rather than one more sweet. He needs what will help him grow.
He thinks he knows what is good, but really, his mama is the one who has his best interests at heart. He considers only his wants while she considers his wants and needs.  Because she loves him.
His perspective, at three, is so limited.
Our perspective, at the human level, is the same: limited.
It is only the eternal, sovereign, good, God, who created us, that could possibly know what is best for us, what we really need.
It may well be, that what is really good for us, is to grow in our understanding of:
Humility.
Yielding.
Comfort.
Trust.
Or simply that when we run to Him, He is there. Listening. Answering.
The way I figure it is, that anything that causes me to seek His face, His heart , is good.
Even this. His doing.