How Is God Doing?

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O LORD; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me. [Psalm 86.5-7]

I was thinking today about how we communicate as humans. A common phrase used to greet someone is, "How are you?"

As I considered this greeting, I could not help but wonder if, with our question, we are actually setting up the one greeted that way for failure.

From a human emotional perspective, asking, "how are you," seems to convey concern. However, from the perspective that God is our everything, it seems of no significance how "we" are doing, but rather, how "God" is doing! Stay with me...

If we learn anything from the Psalms, we learn that praise belongs to God. David, who penned most of the Psalms, was known as "a man after God's own heart," thus validating the Psalms direction to praise God. Oddly enough, the Psalms do not "deny" physical and emotional suffering as it so popular in 'faith' churches, but instead, teach us to verbally (in word and song) rehearse the fact that God transcends all our troubles. In further validation of the Psalms' significance, Jesus quoted the Psalms more than any other Old Testament writing. We would do well to give the Psalms our attention!

Having said this, should we not ask people "How is God doing?" instead of "How are you doing?" By asking this question, we give the other person the opportunity to praise God like seen in Psalm 86.5-7 in their own personalized recitation: "God is good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for His help..."

Likewise, when asked, "How are you doing?" would it not give us the opportunity to respond instead with how God is doing in praise of Him? As awkward as it potentially makes the conversation, it also provides an excellent opportunity to testify of, and glorify God instead of testifying of, and glorifying our troubles...

"How are you doing?"

"Oh, that really doesn't matter... but let me tell you, God is doing great! He is good, ready to forgive, heal and restore and so full of unfailing love when I call to Him for help..."

The response above may be difficult to speak, especially if the life of the one saying it is in shambles. However, as an exercise of faith, wouldn't it be better to say how God is doing instead of how I am doing? Of course it would. All things considered, how I am doing is of no significance to the world... but how God is doing... well, that matters, doesn't it?

The argument that it seems cold and indifferent not to ask a person, "How are you?' should be compared to Jesus' conversations with people. He never allowed the emotions of the people to transcend God's will in their situation. Let's face it, we all live in the same fallen world, so to ask a person how they are doing is just to rehearse, at best, only the best the world can offer, and, at worst, the worst the world can offer. I think the Psalms teach us a better way... let's talk about how God is doing!

There is no argument among most that our conversation needs to change. Even unbelievers understand that negative talk is fruitless and depressing. For believers then, we should lead the way in positive talk - but understanding that we make ourselves highly accountable in so doing. We should be well prepared to follow up our otherwise ridiculous "positive confession" with the reason for our hope and faith. It becomes an excellent opportunity to testify of God's goodness including His offering Jesus Christ to the world (that He is "good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for ...help"). But we have to first know God is good to be able to share that with others.

So, how is God in your life?

Father, help us as believers to change our conversation. Help us to be real with it too - not all phony like we have seen from well-meaning albeit uninformed believers in the past. May our words reveal our focus on, and belief in You as we see in the Psalms. So be it.