September 3, 2025

“How can I repay the Lord for all the good he has done for me?” – Psalm 116:12

Not all friendships are reciprocal. I had this conversation with one of my daughters the other night. In your life you will sometimes give a lot more than you get. And that is okay. We are meant to love and care for the people around us. But every once in a while, you will have the incredible experience of a friend that has given you much more than you could repay them for. This is a very rare and beautiful thing. It is this kind of relationship the psalmist is thinking of when he writes Psalm 116:12. As he reflects on the goodness of God he is overwhelmed by the question, “how in the world could I ever repay God for all the good he has done for me?!”

The truth is, you will never be able to repay God. That beautiful friendship can never become reciprocal. If you were supplied with every resource in heaven and earth and given all eternity to accomplish it, you could never repay God for his goodness to you. However, even though you cannot repay him for his goodness, you can (and should) respond to it. You can praise him with each breath. You can serve him with all the resources at your disposal. You can give your time, talent, and tithe to build his Kingdom. You can love others as he has loved you. God never expects you to repay him for his goodness, but it brings him great joy when you respond to all he has done for you.

Heavenly Father, Your goodness to us is beyond comprehension. We could never repay You. But teach us to respond. Help us live every moment of our lives conscious of, and in response to, the incredible goodness of our God.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon