When we’re going through a challenging season, or facing something hurtful and upsetting, it can be tempting to doubt the goodness of God. We ask: ‘If God’s good, how can He have let this happen to me?’ But the truth is God is good, and nothing we experience, think, or feel, changes that fact. The author of Psalm 119 declared: ‘You are good, and what you do is good’ (v.68 NIV). When bad things do happen, He can bring good out of them. ‘We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him’ (Romans 8:28 NIV). He’s always working for our good, even when we can’t see it. Sometimes it can feel like God’s good to everyone apart from us. Maybe the people around us seem to have the very thing we’ve been praying for, and we can’t see how God can possibly be good to us when He’s not answering our prayers. But we’re told in Psalm 145 that ‘The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made’ (v.9 NIV). When Jesus was heading to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter, he felt power go out of Him. He stopped and took the time to find out who in the crowd had touched His robe, and then ministered into their life (take a look at Luke 8). Jairus could have been wondering why God was more interested in this woman than in healing his daughter. He could see Jesus’ goodness in healing this woman, but he wasn’t experiencing it himself. He may have doubted the truth that God was good to everyone. But Jesus raised his daughter back to life again. He doesn’t forget about any of us. His goodness is unchanging, and for all of us.  

What Now?

Listen to ‘Goodness of God’ by Jenn Johnson. As you’re listening, write down some times that you’ve seen God’s goodness in your life.