Before leaving for Africa, my family and I packed our belongings into a forty-foot shipping container shared with two other families. Since space was limited, we loaded only the most essential items like homeschool curriculum, hard-to-find items, and special memorabilia. 

The shipping company promised us that our container would arrive in a few months. But as we settled into life overseas, it didn’t come. 

We waited, prayed, and contacted the company. Only to find that the fraudulent company lied to us about its arrival and planned to auction off our possessions to the highest bidder.

My husband and a friend flew to the company’s port and negotiated with the officials for two weeks until our container was placed on a truck to Zambia. 

A few weeks later, our container arrived! 

The day we opened our container was like Christmas. Joy and relief flooded our hearts as we unwrapped our belongings. 

These supplies benefited us on the field, just like God’s stored goodness blesses those who honor Him. 

“How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.” Psalm 31:19 

I imagine a huge warehouse filled with boxes of God’s goodness ready to be shipped to my door. But when the boxes don’t arrive fast enough and problems knock at my door, I start to doubt God’s goodness.

The Psalmist experienced troubles: enemies pursuing him, others worshipping idols, and physical exhaustion (6-10), but rather than doubt the Lord’s goodness, he TRUSTED and WAITED (14, 24). He called God his refuge, rock and fortress (1-4). He poured out his petition before the Lord and then switched to praise by focusing on God’s goodness and protection. 

The same can be true in our lives. 

God’s goodness helps us throughout life and provides hope of His eternal goodness of eternal life. May we never lose sight of His stored goodness like a container full of good things ready to be handed out.