When Your Birthday Wish Comes True

by Katy Kauffman

Tomorrow I turn forty-three. It’s a little shocking to be seven years away from the big 5-0, but I’m not worried. Most everyone I meet thinks I am in my twenties (some say I’m twelve), so I can turn forty-three with a smile. Not just because I inherited a baby face from my parents, but because my birthday wish has already come true.

What I want more than anything is to draw close to God in love and fellowship, and spend every day with Him. I’ve got a lot of growing to do in certain areas of my life, but by God’s grace, I can say that I know the joy of fellowshipping with Him. When the sun shines. When the sky grows dark. When people remember you. When they don’t. When you’ve struggled and struggled with something and He’s still patient. When the world caves in and your heart breaks and you wonder how things will get better. When He sets things right.

God is there. He cares. He hears, and He acts. His timing is just right, and while we’re waiting for the sun to shine again, He makes it shine in our hearts. He is always available to talk to. He never gets tired of hearing one more prayer or helping us one more time.

God sets things right with His own presence, with the reassurance that He is near and He cares. His heartbeat is love, and He doesn’t hide it. What a gift to know Someone like Him. His Word tells us what He wants for us, and one of those verses I found tucked away in the book of Jeremiah.

“My people shall be satisfied with My goodness.”
(Jeremiah 31:14 NKJV)

Goodness. Not just what He provides, but who He is. A Father, a Shepherd, a Coach, and a Friend. Our Guide, our Savior, and our Champion. Apart from anything having to do with us, He is pure light—the essence of truth and holiness, free from sin and its dark misery. He is love without spot, without hindrance. Knowing God every day and discovering the depths of His nature and character is goodness.

When fellowshipping with God and sharing life with Him is our reality, no challenge seems too great. No mission seems impossible. Constant sunshine follows us wherever we go, and getting up in the morning promises a new day of love, opportunities, and discoveries.

Why wouldn’t we want to spend our lives like this, when we know who God is and we see Him investing Himself in our lives? We have hope to share with others. Answers and strategies for victory. We know the best Person. He’s too good to just keep to ourselves. We can spend every day till our next birthday, sharing Him with everyone He sends our way.

God promised in Jeremiah 31:14, “My people shall be satisfied with My goodness.” Yes, Father. This one is.

Will you join me this week in celebrating the goodness of God, and share Him with someone? What part of God’s goodness satisfies your heart? Please share in the comments, and may your heart find its rest and joy in His abundant goodness.