Are disappointments and dashed dreams causing you to struggle with believing God is good?
Last week I helped you answer the question “Is God Really Good?” This week, Iβm giving you four more reasons we know God is good, no matter where you are in His plan for your life:
- He knows whatβs best for us eternally.
Perhaps you question Godβs goodness because Youβve asked Him for something and He hasnβt delivered. God wants the best for you eternally, not just what will make you happy momentarily. Godβs definition of what is good for us is often very different than ours. He knows what is best for us because He knows all things, not just our present, but our past and our future, as well. He knows what weβll do with what He gives us, and if weβll walk away and forget Him after receiving what we want. He also knows what to give or take from us so that we will cling to Him.
Psalm 84:11 tells us: ββ¦no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly.β That verse assures us that if we are walking uprightly before God and asking Him for something good and He is still withholding, either what we are asking for isnβt truly good for us, or it isnβt time. Trust what He withholds in order to protect you. Trust that He loves you enough to say βnoβ sometimes. And trust that β unlike an earthly father who might give in to his child just to stop his whining, or spoil a child, not thinking about the long-term consequences β your Heavenly Father knows whatβs best for you and when it is best to bless you.
2. He is patient and forgiving.
Do you picture God as distant, impatient, and difficult to please? To the contrary, Scripture tells us God is patient, βnot wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentanceβ (2 Peter 3:9). God has also revealed Himself to all people so that no one has an excuse to deny His existence (Romans 1:19-20). That is a God who is not hiding Himself, but wanting to make Himself known to all so that He can extend His mighty hand to save.
Whenever you and I even question the goodness or trustworthiness of God we offend His holiness (check out the Old Testament book of Job), and He has the ability β and the right β to wipe us off the face of the earth as soon as we do. But He doesnβt. Scripture says βTheΒ LordΒ isΒ compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness” (Psalm 107:8).Β Β
Furthermore, Psalm 145:9 tells us: βThe Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works.β He causes the sun to shine and the rain to pour on the unrighteous, as well as the righteous. He is a God of second, third, and a million chances and His mercies are βnew every morningβ (Lamentations 3:23). That is a good God who is waiting to forgive, redeem, and give a new start to anyone who asks.
3. Β He works in the midst of our failures.
God is not only good, Himself, but He can make good out of the things in our lives that are bad. He can redeem any person. He can reverse any mistake. And He can make a masterpiece out of any mess.
As a God who specializes in redeeming and restoring and making all things new, He promises to βwork all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposeβ (Romans 8:28). When you and I surrender our lives to Him, and then blow it after we have, He is there to pick up the pieces and put them back in new places so the picture of our lives can be even better than it was before. That is beyond good. That is incredible.
4. He doesnβt give us what we ultimately deserve.
Scripture tells us βfor all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Godβ (Romans 3:23) and therefore βthe wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lordβ (Romans 6:23). Although Godβs Word assures us that the unrighteous (those who reject Christ) will be punished, it also gives us the wonderful news that Godβs lovingkindness will prevail when it comes to those who are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation.
Listen to this verdict from a good God whose very essence is mercy: βHe has not dealt with usΒ accordingΒ toΒ ourΒ sins, nor rewarded usΒ accordingΒ toΒ ourΒ iniquities. For as highΒ as the heavens are above the earth, soΒ great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has HeΒ removed our transgressions from usβ (Psalm 103:10-12).Β Godβs mercy extends to the point that we who are trusting in Christ do not fully get what we deserve from a just God. That is mercy. That is grace. And that is truly good.Β
Which of God’s aspects of goodness really resonate with you this week? I’d love for you to tell me and my readers in the comment section below.
God is really good indeed. Cindi, I am transitioning to a whole new dimension of leadership, and I would like to solicit your fervent prayers. “Thank you”, kindly.
Yes, I am praying for you right now, Renee.
Thank you Cindi for another wonderful and insightful article. We are so short sighted as humans but God truly knows what’s best for us and what we really need. Trusting Him in the midst of trials and daily frustrations can be hard but letting go of our pride (me myself and I mindset) and need to control everything is what He’s looking for. To be still as His children and let Him be God. To obey and walk in love and let Him work in our lives. As you said He is a God of redemption and can rewrite our story in the most unexpected way even when we least deserve it.
Well said, Carine. Thank you.
#1 resonated with me most, especially the comment, βit isnβt time or what Iβm asking may not be good for meβ. We own a cattle ranch and at 69, I ask God daily for a miraculous influx of cash to pay off rest of debt, make some needed improvements, then turn it over to my children so I can serve God in helping the homeless or helping churches raise money for their goals. But I continually ask myself if what Iβm asking somehow would not be good for me and I wonder if that in some ways becomes a lack of faith that God can deliver.
I appreciate your insight. When God doesnβt answer the way we want itβs best for us to question our requests rather than to question the integrity of God. I believe youβre on the right track.
God’s timing is unbelievable when we are going thru circumstances that we cannot comprehend. He continues to remind us daily of his Love for us and the reasons he puts us thru trails, we have to have the faith to trust & believe all things are possible. This is something that I have had difficulty with, I remind myself this is the flesh making me feel this way, not the way God expects & wants us to feel about our circumstances. He is AWESOME!
Thanks, Kim, for that great insight.
Asking God for a miracle this week and the way he answered is answering my prayer for my brother, that I would know if he is saved before he passes away. My brother posted on social media that he believes God’s mercy is enough to cover all his sins, past, present and future. I am so thankful to know this and brought to tears over God’s goodness. My brother is alive and I hope to talk to him soon, and rejoice with him in Gods mercy. There is so much hardness to truth all around. So happy when one sinner repents openly-changes their mind about the gospel and accepts Christ.
Becky, that is WONDERFUL news and thank you so much for sharing it with me and my readers. The Bible says all heaven rejoices when one sinner comes to repentance and how good of God to let you know, so your heart is comforted, that your brother has confessed with his mouth Jesus as Lord, and believed in his heart that God raised Him from the dead, and therefore is saved (Romans 10:9). He truly is good to give us just what we need just in time. π
It would pieces of all 4 really, and not just this week. I have experienced so much loss in the last year. I know that God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. I am so grateful he is in control during this season. Thank you Cindi for a wonderful article!
Chery, Iβm so glad this blog ministered to you and it is so very good to hear from you again. Iβm sorry to hear it has been a season of loss for you. Please feel free to email me at Cindispeaks@msn.com and let me know how I can be praying for you. I owe you that, my friend.