You know those things that fall from a certain tree that when they fall, they look like helicopter blades? I used to play with those all the time as a kid. We would turn it into a game by throwing them back up in the air and watching them spin around as they fall. Whoever had the one that stayed up the longest, won. We would drop them off of the deck, tree limbs, rooftops (don’t tell my mom), or whatever elevated place we could find. And now that I have kids of my own, we do the same thing. It’s one of life’s simple pleasures.

Playing with those helicopter things (I know they are tree seeds or something, but who has time to look up what they are actually called, anyway?) reminded of something. Those seeds were designed to become trees when they fell to the earth, not to be manhandled by grubby child hands.

But sometimes they fall on rooftops. Or patio furniture. Or get smashed up by kids, or run over by cars, or eaten by birds. It wasn’t their fault. Sometimes that’s just how the wind blows. Circumstances beyond their control presented their fate. That’s the life of a helicopter tree seed thing.

But it’s also the life of a human. God did not design humanity to be miserable or to see their dreams dashed. He did not create us to feel despair, depression, or fear. And yet every single person who reads this can recall a dozen times or more where all of those feelings were experienced. Sometimes simultaneously.

God’s intent was for us to experience and express love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But we all know life doesn’t always work out that way. It isn’t our fault. Sometimes that’s just how the wind blows. Circumstances beyond our control present us our fate. That’s the life of a human being.

But in all things, we know we worship a King who is still good. We were designed to be in His presence at all times, feeling His joy and His love. Sometimes we get knocked off course. Sometimes our dreams aren’t realized. We start off on the right path, and we have all the intentions of living passionately for the King regardless of our circumstances. And sometimes, those intentions are met with reality. If so, we can see that God is good.

But if not, He is still good. I am thankful today and every day that I get to be loved by a Good God. Even if sometimes I get smashed up by kids or run over by cars or eaten by birds. Even the worst of things cannot shake the reality that God is still good. There’s peace in that.