Daily InsPirational MOments with Rev. Dr. Precious Prothro

---

Who Defines Good?

Many people ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

My response is simple: Who defines good?

God’s plan—whether we agree with it or not—is good.

Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us that His thoughts and His ways are higher than ours. What we see as unfair, painful, or confusing may still be part of a plan we simply cannot comprehend.

The truth is, we are flesh. That means we are capable of both good and evil. If we are not led by the Spirit, it is very possible that we will participate in things that are not good. And because we live in a fallen world, difficult things will touch our lives at some point.

So before we accuse God of mishandling those who are “good,” we must remember that what we are experiencing is often just life, and the unfolding of His divine plan in ways we do not yet understand.

Even when the moment feels painful or confusing, God is still good.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us: “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time… so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”

When life doesn’t make sense, remember this—God doesn’t have to explain His goodness for it to still be good.

Lord, help us trust Your wisdom when life does not make sense to us. Remind us that Your ways are higher than ours and Your plans are always good. Give us peace to trust Your hand even when we cannot see the full picture. Amen.

You Are Okay, Even When Your “It” Isn’t

I watched a video of Tye Tribbett where he reminded us of something powerful: we are good. Our “it” may not be good right now, but we are.

Think about Daniel in the lions’ den. Think about the Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. Then, think about your current storm.

Yes, situations get scary. Yes, we will have earthly cares and concerns. Yes, circumstances can look bleak. But we are still here—standing, hoping, and believing.

In Matthew 8:23–27, the disciples were in a boat during a violent storm: “And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.” (Matthew 8:24, KJV)

The waves were crashing.
The ship was filling.
Fear took over.

They knew Jesus was in the boat, but because He was settled and resting—as they should have been—they assumed He didn’t care.

Au contraire, my friends!

Let’s not be too hard on the disciples, though, because they are us. Even though God is with us—“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1)—we still become overwhelmed by our “it.”

Sometimes we focus so much on the storm that we forget who is in the boat.

So today, don’t focus more on your “it” than you do on the fact that Jesus is with you.

The lion’s mouth has already been closed.

There is already a fourth man in the fire.
And because He is with us… we are okay.

Lord, help us remember that Your presence is greater than any storm we face. When our situations look overwhelming, remind us that You are still in the boat with us. Strengthen our faith so we focus more on You than on our circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When We Need a Little Help 

Lyric has had stomach issues since she was a newborn. For the last couple of days she started saying her belly hurt again, and I just couldn’t figure out why.

Yesterday, our family NP (my sister) gave me something to help. I made the concoction, but Lyric was not interested in drinking it. I tried encouraging her and started naming people, almost everyone, in our immediate village, asking who could help convince her.

Her answer every time was, “Uncle.”

So I FaceTimed him. He barely said anything. The moment she saw his face on the screen, she agreed to drink it. She chugged the liquid and even sighed like it was apple juice.

She had the strength to do what she needed to do. She just needed a little help.

Isn’t that true for us sometimes?

There are moments when we don’t know what to say, what to pray, or how to handle what we’re facing. Praise God that He didn’t leave us alone in those moments. He gave us the Holy Spirit to help with our weaknesses.

Romans 8:26 tells us: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities…”

When we don’t know what to do, the Spirit helps us. When we don’t know what to say, the Spirit intercedes. When we feel weak, the Spirit strengthens.

We may need a little help sometimes, but thank God we are never without it. God didn’t just give us a path to walk—He gave us His Spirit to help us walk it.

Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit. When we are weak, confused, or unsure, remind us that we are not alone. Help us to lean on the Spirit You placed within us to guide, strengthen, and intercede for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.