Most people are familiar with Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want..." The Lord highlighted to my spirit Psalm 23:6:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. Psalm 23:6
The truth is sometimes it does not feel like God's goodness and mercy follow us. There are times we struggle with pain, loss, grief, disappointment, and adversity. We may even wonder where God is.
The word goodness means "the blessings of God-protection, provision, generosity, and love.
The word mercy has to do with God's forgiveness, grace, steadfast love, kindness, and faithfulness.
Every day God's goodness and mercy follow us.
In Hebrew, the word follow means radah- which means "to pursue, to set off after someone in order to catch him."
However, we can get discouraged if we believe God's goodness and mercy mean no loss, pain, or family disharmony. Scripture shows the reality of God's goodness and mercy including betrayal and slavery for Joesph. For Naomi and Ruth God's goodness and mercy included the loss of their husbands.
The truth is God's goodness and mercy are often displayed in the midst of suffering and loss.
There will never be a day in which the goodness and mercy of the Lord will not be immediately right by us no matter what trial or circumstances are around us.