The Fruit of Becoming · Part 6 of 10
Goodness
Fruit is not something we force. It is the natural evidence of a life remaining connected to Jesus.
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”Psalm 34:8 (KJV)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.”James 1:17 (KJV)
When we hear the word goodness, most of us think about what we do: being honest, doing the right thing, helping others, and living with integrity. Those things are part of goodness, but before we can consistently live in goodness, we have to learn to receive it.
God does not begin by telling us to go and be good. He first invites us to experience His goodness, receive it, trust it, and believe His ways are truly better than our own.
For many of us, that is harder than it sounds, especially after unhealthy relationships, dysfunction, or chaos. We can become so accustomed to instability that peace feels unfamiliar. Consistency can seem boring. Healthy boundaries can feel cold. Quiet can make us uncomfortable. We may even mistake chaos for passion because it is familiar.
The Israelites experienced something similar. God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, but He also spent years leading Egypt out of them. Again and again, they wanted to return to what was familiar, forgetting the chains that came with it.
The wilderness was not simply a journey to the Promised Land. It was a place where God taught His people to trust His goodness. Every day He provided and guided. He showed them that freedom was not only leaving slavery behind, but learning to live as people who belonged to Him.
God does not simply rescue us from sin, fear, shame, or unhealthy patterns. He patiently teaches us how to receive what is good.
Over time, what once felt plain becomes beautiful. What once felt unfamiliar begins to feel like home. We stop craving what kept us in bondage and begin delighting in what is steady, faithful, peaceful, and true.
Goodness is not only becoming someone who does good. It is becoming someone who can recognize, receive, and delight in the goodness of God. We cannot consistently give away what we refuse to receive.
As we abide in Christ, His goodness reshapes our actions and desires. We ask less, ‘What can I get away with?’ and more, ‘What reflects the heart of Jesus?’ Not because we are trying harder, but because we have tasted His goodness.
Where might God be inviting you not only to practice goodness, but to receive it? Is His goodness unfamiliar because you have grown accustomed to something else?