“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” Psalms 84:11
Have you ever prayed for something that you were sure was good—only to see the door shut? In those moments, it’s easy to wonder if God is holding out, isn’t it? In fact, this recently happened to me. I thought God was going to answer a prayer in a way that would drastically free up my time for more ministry, but the deal fell flat! As I began to spiral down that hole of anxiety and felt my peace diminishing, God reminded me of Isaiah 26:3:
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
I began to feel a bit foolish. Why was I doubting God? Why was I making Him smaller than the problem? Do I really know more than He does? I thought about whether my trust was less than 100% and thus, whether I was even trusting Him at all!
No trust = no peace.
Then I read Psalm 84:11, which is God’s invitation to gain a deeper knowledge of His goodness. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly before Him!
What does this mean?
First, know this promise isn’t reserved for super-saints. It’s for ordinary born-again believers who choose, day after day, to passionately desire to love God and follow Him in honesty and integrity. Psalm 34:10 reinforces this promise: “The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” We also KNOW from reading James 1:17, that “EVERY good gift and EVERY perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” God is never withholding His goodness from us; rather, He is merely strategic in giving it. If He hasn’t entrusted us with more, it’s because, in His omniscience, He protects us from what might harm us.
Keep in mind that those who “walk blamelessly” are not perfect (thank you, Jesus). Rather, it’s all those micro-decisions we make each day that demonstrate we love and want to glorify God in all areas of our life. It’s often the small, everyday choices most people never see. It’s refusing to pad your expense report even when “everyone does it.” It’s choosing not to retaliate when someone flips you off. It’s turning off the phone at night so you can actually listen to the Holy Spirit. It’s giving your last twenty dollars because you trust God more than your bank account. These aren’t big acts, but they are acts of surrender that position us to receive ALL the goodness God has already prepared.
And when we live in full surrender, God’s goodness shows up in ways that show His “yes” both practically and profoundly, spiritually.
Sometimes it’s the sun breaking through storm clouds on that morning when you feel you can’t face another day—reminding you that His light always breaks the darkness. Sometimes it’s the shield: the accident that never happened, the argument that de-escalated, or the unexpected check that covered the exact amount of your bill. Ephesians 1:3 reminds us that in Christ, we are ALREADY “blessed with every SPIRITUAL blessing in the heavenly places.” The best blessings are…
- A coworker who’s been watching you suddenly asks why you are so kind and peaceful, and you get to lead her to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
- A young believer you’ve been discipling texts you at midnight: “I finally get it. I have that peace which passes understanding, and it’s beyond wonderful!”
My friend, the spiritual blessings are not just the good things, but they are the BEST things. God never withholds them from us when we are trying to walk according to His will. This is the fruit of righteousness. Every time we choose God first in every area of our lifes, we step deeper into the abundance He has planned for us.
So today, look for all the reminders of God’s presence. Don’t let the enemy trick you into despair and into believing the same lies he told Eve. When we choose to walk in God’s way, we see the magnitude of all He IS doing, and we don’t have time to worry about the doors that do not open. We’re too busy running through all the ones He opens. 🙂
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have questioned Your “no” and doubted Your heart. Help me today to choose acts of obedience that keep my heart close to Yours. Open my eyes to the spiritual blessings all around me. Teach me to rest in Your perfect wisdom, knowing that every withheld thing is wrapped in Your protection and every given thing is wrapped in Your love. May my life overflow with the fruit of Your Spirit and the wisdom of Your Word so that others see Jesus in me and long to know You. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, I pray. Amen.
