Moving Forward With Open Hands: Learning to Receive God’s Goodness

Scripture Focus

James 1:17 (NRSVUE)

“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above…”

There is something I have been thinking about lately. We can become so focused on what we need to change, where we need to go, and what we hope will happen next that we forget to consider what we might need to receive along the way.

Moving forward sounds like an invitation to take action. We think about making decisions, finding direction, leaving something behind, or beginning again. But what if moving forward also requires us to become more willing to receive?

I know how easy it can be to focus on what still needs attention. There are responsibilities to manage, questions without answers, and things we would like to be different. We can spend so much time thinking about what comes next that we overlook the kindness, encouragement, support, and opportunities already within reach.

I don’t want to become so occupied with getting somewhere that I forget to appreciate what God is placing in my life today.

Perhaps the next chapter isn’t only about where I am going. Perhaps it is also about learning to receive along the way.

What Does James 1:17 Mean?

James writes:

“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above…”

To understand this verse, it helps to consider what comes before it.

James 1 begins by addressing trials, perseverance, and the importance of seeking wisdom from God. James acknowledges that believers experience difficulties and need spiritual maturity as they navigate them.

He then makes an important distinction between the trials people experience and the character of God.

God is not the source of temptation. He is the giver of good gifts. His character is dependable and does not change.

This matters because James is not promising that everything we want will eventually become ours. He is not suggesting that faith guarantees financial success, perfect health, restored relationships, or a life without disappointment.

Instead, he directs our attention towards God’s goodness.

We can recognise His generosity without assuming that every desire will be fulfilled exactly as we imagine.

His gifts may be found in grace, wisdom, encouragement, relationships, opportunities to serve, and the strength to continue when circumstances remain difficult.

The passage invites us to recognise the goodness of the Giver rather than measure His faithfulness only by the outcomes we receive.

That is an important distinction when we are trying to move forward.

Why Is It Sometimes Difficult to Receive Good Things?

I think there is a difference between wanting something good and allowing ourselves to receive it.

We may pray for change, hope for new opportunities, or ask God to bring something meaningful into our lives. Yet when something good appears, we can find ourselves hesitating.

We wonder how long it will last.

We question whether we deserve it.

We may even feel uncomfortable accepting help or kindness because we are so accustomed to being the person who provides it.

Sometimes we have spent so much time managing difficult circumstances that receiving feels unfamiliar.

We know how to be responsible. We know how to look after others. We know how to keep going when things become complicated.

But receiving requires a different response.

It asks us to recognise that we are not required to manage everything alone.

It also asks us to understand that accepting something good does not mean we are ignoring the difficult things that remain unresolved.

Both can be true.

I can still have concerns about tomorrow while appreciating something good today. I can still be working through a difficult season while accepting encouragement. I can still have unanswered prayers while recognising God’s goodness in the ordinary moments of life.

Moving Forward Doesn’t Mean Having the Whole Journey Planned

When we think about a journey, we often imagine having a destination, a route, and some idea of what to expect along the way.

Life doesn’t always provide that kind of certainty.

There are times when circumstances change and the direction we once expected is no longer possible. We may have to reconsider our priorities, make different decisions, or discover new ways of living.

It can be tempting to wait until everything becomes clear before moving forward.

But faith does not require us to know every detail of tomorrow.

Psalm 119:105 describes God’s Word as a lamp for our feet and a light for our path.

A lamp gives us light for where we are walking. It does not necessarily reveal the entire journey.

That image has become an important reminder for me.

I can seek God’s wisdom for the decision in front of me without demanding that He explain every consequence. I can take time to pray, gather information, and consider my responsibilities.

And when I don’t know what comes next, I can remain close to Christ while I wait.

Moving forward doesn’t mean rushing. Sometimes it means taking one thoughtful step. Sometimes it means allowing a new opportunity to develop. Sometimes it means recognising that we need help before we can continue.

When Life Changes, Your Purpose Doesn’t Disappear

One of the things I have learned through changing circumstances is that our sense of purpose can become closely connected to what we are able to do.

When our routines, abilities, or responsibilities change, we may begin wondering where we fit.

I have experienced this in my own life.

Leaving work was not part of the future I had imagined. For years, working had been part of my everyday life. When circumstances meant I had to step away, I initially saw much of what I was losing.

I wondered what my days would look like and whether I would ever feel like myself again.

Looking back, I can see things I couldn’t have imagined during that difficult transition. Time with my grandchildren became an important part of my days. I began writing children’s stories, and Healing Journey with Christ developed into a place where I could share reflections and encouragement with others.

None of this means the difficulties disappeared or that every change turned out the way I would have chosen.

There are still limitations and things I wish were different.

But my life did not stop when my circumstances changed.

I have learned that purpose can continue to develop in ways we could not have anticipated.

Sometimes moving forward means recognising that our lives still have meaning even when they no longer look the way we expected.

Learning to Receive Help Is Part of Moving Forward

There is another part of receiving that I think deserves attention.

Sometimes what God places in our lives comes through other people.

A kind offer. A practical gesture. Someone willing to listen. A person who notices we are struggling and offers to help.

I have found that receiving help can feel quite different from offering it.

I can encourage someone, listen, pray, and step in when something needs doing. But when I am the person who needs support, I can find myself wondering whether I should have managed things differently.

Perhaps I should have planned better. Perhaps I should have tried harder.

But needing help does not mean I have failed.

In Scripture, Paul describes the church as the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12, he explains that the different parts of the body need one another.

That is a beautiful reminder that we were never meant to live as though complete independence were the measure of strength.

Receiving appropriate help does not take away our dignity or responsibility.

It allows us to acknowledge our limitations and recognise the value of other people.

We can be capable and still need support. We can be faithful and still need encouragement.

Sometimes the next step forward begins with being willing to say, “I could use some help.”

What If I Am Afraid to Hope for Something Good?

There is another difficulty that can accompany change.

We may want something deeply but feel afraid to hope for it.

Perhaps we have experienced disappointment before. Perhaps a relationship has not developed as we hoped, a plan has fallen apart, or an opportunity has not worked out.

After enough disappointment, keeping expectations low can begin to feel safer.

But there is a difference between hope and certainty.

Biblical hope does not mean believing that everything we desire will happen. It means placing our confidence in God even when we cannot control the outcome.

Romans 12:12 encourages believers to rejoice in hope, remain patient in suffering, and persevere in prayer.

We can bring our hopes honestly before God.

We can ask for what matters to us. We can pray for new opportunities, meaningful relationships, and circumstances that may bring encouragement.

But we also need to leave room for God’s wisdom rather than turning our hopes into promises He has not made.

I don’t think we need to stop hoping simply because disappointment is possible.

We can remain open to goodness without demanding that life follow a particular script.

How Can We Begin Receiving God’s Goodness?

I don’t want to turn this into another list of things we must accomplish.

Instead, here are a few gentle ways to practise moving forward with a more open heart.

1. Notice what is already good.

Pay attention to the small things that bring encouragement. A conversation, a quiet morning, a kind gesture, or a moment of laughter may be worth more attention than we realise.

2. Stop measuring your worth by productivity.

You do not have to accomplish something extraordinary to be worthy of kindness, support, or rest.

3. Allow appropriate help.

When someone offers genuine, safe, and welcome support, consider whether you can accept it without feeling obligated to prove yourself.

4. Give yourself permission to hope.

You can express what you would like to see happen while leaving the outcome in God’s hands.

5. Take one reasonable step forward.

You do not need to change everything at once. Consider what is within your capacity today and allow the rest to unfold in its own time.

Moving forward with faith is not about forcing a new beginning. It is about remaining open to God’s goodness while living faithfully in the present.

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Still Walking This Journey?

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Subscribers can also access free Scripture cards, prayers, Bible reading plans, journaling pages, and other materials in the Resource Library.

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You Don’t Have to Earn the Goodness You Receive

I think this is one of the most important things I want to remember.

We can become so accustomed to working, helping, giving, and managing responsibilities that we begin to believe our value depends on what we contribute.

But God’s grace is not something we earn through productivity.

We do not have to prove that we have done enough before we can receive His love.

We do not have to wait until every difficulty is resolved before we can appreciate a moment of joy.

And we do not have to become completely independent before accepting the kindness of others.

There is a difference between living responsibly and believing we must carry everything ourselves.

Receiving does not make us selfish. Appreciating a good moment does not mean we have forgotten someone else’s suffering. Allowing ourselves to hope does not mean we are demanding a particular outcome.

It simply means we are learning to live with open hands.

I want to become more attentive to the goodness that is already part of my life, while remaining willing to discover what lies ahead.

I don’t need to know every detail.

I need to keep my heart close to Christ.

Journaling Questions for Reflection

Take a few quiet moments with these questions. There is no need to rush towards an answer.

1. What am I holding onto because I am afraid of what might happen if I move forward?
2. Do I find it easier to give help than to receive it? What makes receiving difficult?
3. Have I been so focused on what is missing that I have overlooked something good in my present circumstances?
4. What would it mean to allow myself to hope without demanding a particular outcome?
5. Where might God be inviting me to take one thoughtful step forward?

You may find that one question stays with you longer than the others. Give yourself permission to sit with it.

A Prayer for Moving Forward With an Open Heart

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your goodness, Your grace, and the gifts that come from You.

As I look towards what lies ahead, help me release the need to understand everything before I take another step.

When I become afraid of change, remind me that I can seek Your wisdom and trust You with what I cannot control.

Teach me to recognise the goodness already present in my life. Help me receive kindness without feeling that I must earn it, and accept support without believing that needing help makes me weak.

When disappointment makes me afraid to hope, give me the courage to bring my desires honestly before You while leaving the outcome in Your hands.

Help me recognise my purpose in this season, appreciate the people who walk alongside me, and remain attentive to the opportunities You place before me.

May I move forward with faith, gratitude, and an open heart, keeping my eyes on Christ.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Continue Your Journey

If you are learning to move forward while trusting God with what comes next, these reflections may offer further encouragement.

I Don’t Need the Whole Map

A reflection on learning to trust God’s guidance when we want certainty about the future. It explores how Scripture gives us light for the next step rather than a complete picture of the road ahead.

When God Teaches Me to Receive Help

An honest reflection on why accepting help can feel uncomfortable and how needing another person does not mean we have failed.

When You’re Afraid to Hope for What You Really Want

A devotional about expressing our hopes honestly before God without trying to control what happens next.

A Free Resource for Your Journey

If you would like to spend more time learning to trust God through changing circumstances, visit the Healing Journey with Christ Free Resource Library.

You will find the Learning to Trust Bible reading plan, along with Scripture cards, prayers, and other printable resources to support your time with God.

The reading plan offers an opportunity to spend additional time in Scripture, reflect on God’s guidance, and strengthen your faith one day at a time.

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Still Walking This Journey?

Receive new Healing Journey with Christ devotionals in your inbox and access free Scripture cards, prayers, reading plans, journaling pages, and other Resource Library materials.

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Call to Connect

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Have you found it difficult to receive help or accept something good after a difficult season? Are you learning to move forward without knowing exactly what comes next?

You are welcome to share your reflections in the comments or ask for prayer. Please share only what feels comfortable.

Share Your Story

Perhaps you have experienced a season when life took an unexpected direction and, along the way, discovered something meaningful you hadn’t anticipated.

Your experience might encourage someone else who is trying to find their way forward.

If you would like to share your story, visit our Share Your Guest Story page.

You never know how your words might help someone feel less alone.

As you move forward, may you remember that you do not have to earn God’s grace, carry every burden alone, or know the entire road ahead. Keep your eyes on Christ, receive the goodness of today, and take the next step with faith.