God Is Very Good! Have you ever doubted that? Have people made you question the goodness of God? Have they painted a condemning God who sadistically delights in your suffering? Have circumstances felt so painful and unfair that you had a hard time believing God cares? Are you angry at God? My friend, God is truly good in spite of all of these seemingly contradictory things! Yes, life has trials and sufferings which God will use for good. However, God loves you–yes, you–so very, very much and ultimately has your best interest at heart.
He Desires to Bless You!
We should always look to the Bible, God’s holy Word, to find out what is true rather than to our feelings, which are so often unreliable. Our feelings are so important to God, but we need to look beyond them to see what God says about Himself, us, and our lives. Psalm 34:8-10 (King James Version) tells us the wonderful news:
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. O fear the LORD, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
God desires to bless you, my friend! He will allow suffering to shape your character, but His heart toward you is not at all unfeeling. And the trials don’t last forever! When you fear God–that is, have a proper reverence for Him–then God will make sure you don’t “want”, or lack, any good thing! God isn’t stingy! He is the ultimate cheerful Giver! Second Corinthians 9:7 tells us,”Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom
Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Having a relationship with God starts with believing Jesus Christ died on the cross about 2,000 years ago for the forgiveness of each of our sins, or wrongdoings, and that He came back alive three days later. A relationship with God also begins by putting our trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. It is greatly enhanced by having a proper fear, or reverence, for the Lord. Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:5 all tell us, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” God told us this three times. It is really an important point He is making to emphasize it so much.
Through Faith and Patience We Inherit the Promises
God is very good! Hebrews 6:12 advises us “that ye be not slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Some blessings come right away. Others we must wait for, sometimes for a long time. But surely God will give us the blessings He promises in the Bible. Second Corinthians 1:20 reassures us, “…for all the promises of God in Him are ‘yea’; and in Him ‘amen’ unto the glory of God by us.” “Yea” means “yes”, and “Amen” means “let it be so.” Psalm 37:4 teaches us this wonderful promise, “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Wow! If the LORD God is the most important person in your life, and nothing else matters to you more, then He will give you the desires of your heart that He placed in your heart! Hang on to Him and that promise, and don’t let it go! Galatians 6:9 kindles our hope: “And let us not be weary in welldoing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Without Faith It Is Impossible to Please God!
We read this astounding truth in Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Whoa. Catch this. Faith is not just for Charismatic Christians. God wants every believer of His to have faith in His goodness! What do we have faith for? A red sports car convertible? Maybe or maybe not. We have faith for God’s will. Especially we have faith that God will supply all our needs, spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical. Philippians 4:19 encourages us, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” God owns it all, my friend! He is able and willing to make sure you have food to eat, water to drink, and clothes to wear. He will often give you so much more, as well. Matthew 6:25-33 gives us this hope:
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not araryed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! You may or may not be rich in this life, but God does promise that those who seek first His kingdom and His righteousness will be supplied food, drink, and clothing! You do not have to worry and fret about what to eat or drink or clothing to wear or even the bill collectors. God will provide in His perfect timing! God is very good, indeed!
God Will Help You Accomplish His Will
Second Corinthians 9:8 gives us fodder for prayer:
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now He that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God….
I pray this verse a lot because I desire to abound to every good work. God is able to make all grace abound toward you that you will have the wherewithal and finances to do every good work He calls you to do! Praise His Name! Listen to this inspiring promise in Ephesians 3:20: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us….” This, my friend, is more than just about financial blessings. It includes God’s ability to bless us in every conceivable way, including financially! God is very good!
Do not let someone steal your faith about God’s desire to bless you. Yes, some have asked for things outside of God’s will. Indeed, maybe we all have. Some of us have asked God for things to consume it upon our lusts, and maybe God did or didn’t give it to us. Nevermind. God will surely give you things that are in accord with His will! We read this wonderful promise in 1 John 5:14-15: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” This is where we need the assistance of God’s Holy Spirit to know the difference between what is God’s will and what is not. If we are not sure, we can pray for wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
God’s Lovingkindness and His faithfulness Is to Every Generation!
Let us look at other verses to prove that God is very good. Psalm 100:5 tells us, “For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations.” God’s promises in the Old Testament of the Bible aren’t just to the Jews. It is to every believer, both Jew and Gentile, throughout all generations! If you are a believer in Christ Jesus, you are heirs of the promises of Abraham! Galatians 3:28-29 informs us, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Hallelujah! God is very good, indeed!
A favorite, loved psalm is Psalm 23, which tells us many benefits of following the Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus, and the sweet Holy Spirit, all who alone comprise God:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
God gives us His loving guidance; spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical refreshment. He meets the thirst of our hearts for His love and gives us quiet places to rejuvenate. He restores our wounded, weary souls. He leads us into His holiness by placing Jesus in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and helps us to grow in Him into a purer person more like Him. He protects us when facing death, evil, and enemies. If we die, we go to heaven and escape our trials and enter His bliss. If we face evil, we needn’t fear because He is there with us to drive away the devil with His rod and His staff. He comforts us. He ministers to us and meets our needs even when our enemies are present. He anoints our head with the oil of His Holy Spirit so that our “cup” runs over with His goodness! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we will dwell in the house of the LORD forever! God is very good, yes, Lord!
If We Suffer, We Shall Also Reign with Him!
Does God let us face difficulties since He is very good? Yes, He does! Many of us know that God uses trials to refine our characters. That is absolutely true. However, please know that it is not just about holiness that God is after. Suffering is a part of life, even the Christian life, and serves a wonderful purpose in the end to make us more like Jesus. We are promised in 2 Timothy 2:12a, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him….” Glory! If we remain faithful to God in all of our sufferings and repent when we don’t, then our Lord Jesus will let us reign with Him in His kingdom! Wow! That would be another blog to discuss about that. 🙂
Sorrow and Suffering Are the Door That Opens Up Greater Intimacy with God
Sorrow and suffering, including persecution, are a part of life on earth; but it is not an end-all for the Christian. Sorrow and suffering are the door that opens up greater intimacy with God. So many people ask, “If God is so good, then why is there all this suffering in the world?” Maybe you have wondered that, too. I like what my husband Charlie says about this, “God loves to rescue damsels in distress. Each human is like a damsel in distress compared to God.” One verse in the Bible that readily comes to mind is Romans 11:32: “For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all” (New American Standard Version of the Bible). God will show mercy to all of us disobedient humans who call upon His Name for forgiveness! God is very good!
God, Who Is Love, Suffers with You
“God is love” says 1 John 4:8. He is not sadistic. He does not find pleasure in your suffering. He is compassionate. He suffers with you. Isaiah 63:9 tells Israel and us, “In all their affliction, He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old.” God is afflicted when you are afflicted. His Presence will save you with the assistance of His angels. He loves you! He has pity on you and redeems you! He bears you and carries you through your wilderness journey through life! Me, too! He carries all of us who call on His wonderful Name!
God Allows Suffering So We Can Comfort Others with the Comfort We Receive from God
God will comfort you before, during, and after your trials. We see in 2 Corinthians 1:4 about God “…Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.” Did you catch that? We learn here another reason God allows suffering for a season: so that we can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God! God uses suffering for our good and the good of those with whom we come in contact! God uses our sufferings to make us more loving toward Him and others when we cling to Him! God is very good!
Jeremiah 29:11-14 is a well-loved passage in the Bible. It promises us from God,
“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,” declares the LORD, “and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.”
God has good plans for Israel and you, my friend! He has good plans for me! He plans to bless us with doing well, not things completely falling apart. He plans to give us a future and a hope. He will hear our prayers when we come to Him with our whole, surrendered hearts! We will find Him! He will restore our fortunes, gather us from the places where we have been “exiled”, and put us in the city of God! God is very good! So, so, so good! No matter who hurt you, what happened, how hopeless today seems, God is on your side! And He is going to make your future and your life more beautiful as you trust in Him! Proverbs 4:18 gives us this hope: “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” Your full, perfect day is coming in heaven! The day of the Lord is on the way! In the meantime, your path is getting brighter and brighter as you lean on God for strength and renewal!
You Will Mount Up with Wings Like an Eagle
We read these refreshing promises in Isaiah 40:27-31:
Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Are you weary? Worn out? Discouraged? Depressed? Angry? Give it all to God, and He will make you soar like an eagle in your heart! He will set you free from all that troubles you. You can have victory and joy in your heart and soul even before the circumstances change! And eventually, the circumstances WILL change. Every trial has a happy ending for God’s children! You can be adopted into God’s family today! He is only a prayer away….
The Wonderful Benefits of Belonging to God
Psalm 103:1-14 also tells us the wonderful benefits of belonging to God and putting our trust in Jesus:
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.
This is our amazing God! We should bless Him, praise Him, for all His many wonderful benefits available to every human who puts their trust in Him! You can bless Him before your prayers are answered, too! He forgives our sins! You do not have to bear the guilt and shame of your past and present mistakes! He heals all your diseases! All of them in His perfect timing! Even death is deliverance from sickness if the healing doesn’t come before then. Don’t let anyone trick you into thinking that Jesus doesn’t heal anymore. He is “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever” says Hebrews 13:8! The LORD redeems your life from destruction! He crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies! If you don’t feel Him in that way, just ask Him with a sincere heart. He satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s! He executes righteousness and judgment for you when you are oppressed! He will show you not only His acts, but His ways if you seek Him! He is merciful and gracious to you! He is slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy toward you! He will not always get on your case or hold a grudge against you once you confess and forsake your sins. He withholds the punishment you and I deserve when we ask for forgiveness and mercy. His great mercy is as the heaven is high above the earth! He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west–an infinite distance! Are you fatherless or an orphan? God pities, has compassion on, you and all of His children like a father pities his children! Truly, He is our Father! He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust!
The Best Blessing of All is God’s Intimate Friendship and Companionship
Truly, all the blessings God gives us are wonderful! However, the best blessing of all is His very intimate friendship and companionship as His son or daughter, brother or sister, friend, and bride (male or female)!!! Jesus said to His church and to each of us, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Jesus invites anyone, even Christians, to open our hearts to Him and sup with Him through the Word of God and through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling us! What could be better? Nothing!!
God is very good! Do you believe it? I encourage you to spend time reading the Bible and praying to God after giving your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Have you gotten offended at God and gone astray? Tell Him you are sorry by praying a heartfelt prayer, even a simple prayer; and His arms are waiting to take you back right this moment! You don’t need fancy words, just be sincere. Go to a church that teaches you about God’s love and truth. You will discover for yourself, taste and see, that the Lord is truly very good!
Send me your comments, questions, and prayer requests on my Contact page. I would love to hear from you! ❤
Here are two songs I love about the goodness of God:
The first is Jenn Johnson’s “Goodness of God”! Wow, I feel swallowed up in glory just listening and worshipping with this song just now! Thank you, Jenn, for this gem! I encourage you to listen and worship God, too!
Another sweet song about the goodness of the Lord is Twila Paris’ “You Have Been Good”. Amen, Twila!