By Jay Cookingham (Soulfari)
“We must never tolerate an instant’s unbelief as to the goodness of the Lord; whatever else may be questioned, this is absolutely certain, that Jehovah is good; His dispensations may vary, but His nature is always the same.” - C. H. Spurgeon
God is good and everything He does is good. Have you heard that phrase before? Those words flow so easy off the lips when all is well don’t they? When life throws up on you…what then? Two years ago my world came to a sudden and crashing halt. My wife Christine had a heart attack and though it was a minor one…it shook my faith in His goodness.
It was late when it happened, everyone was asleep except my oldest daughter, and she waited anxiously at home as I rushed her mom to the hospital. When my wife was stable and resting, I returned home around 3:30 in the morning. Exhausted and wondering how I would tell my kids that their mom had a heart attack and now was in ICU awaiting further tests. It was difficult, my kids range from age 8 to 21 and their response was as varied as their age. Some were crying, others stunned, and all were concerned of course. However, every one of them expressed (in their own way) something wonderful…their trust in God’s goodness towards their mom. They were positive (even more than I was) that their mom was in the best hands possible...the God who loved her.
“Oh that men would praise Jehovah for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the sons of man!” Psalms 107:8
My children’s expression of faith in their Heavenly Father’s nature helped me find the fixed point I needed. It also reminded me of two powerful attributes of His goodness, ones that helped me focus on going forward with faith.
God's goodness is huge in two things…giving and forgiving.
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the shadow of turning.” James 1:17
Goodness Gives
- Mercy – “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us.” Ephesians 2:4
- Grace – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7 - Blessing – “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Psalm 84:11
Goodness Forgives
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” Psalm 86:5
“And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” Hebrews 8:12
The Scriptures show that God is intimately available to help us walk through the difficult times…by our side! Even when our faith wavers, He is still there, loving and forgiving us. It is all about clearing the way to know the Father. His goodness not only makes knowing Him a reality but grants us access on a much deeper level.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace; that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
The boldness in our steps comes from a close relationship shared with the Father, not pride from an earned position. It has nothing to do with what we have done or who we are. It has everything to do with who God is! His goodness changes our perspective (if we choose to) towards everything in our journey with Him. I believe that, because experiencing God’s goodness along the way fuels our faith and strengthens us. It is a level of goodness that transcends anything we can imagine…it even follows us around!
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah forever.” Psalm 23:6
This post is part of our series discussing what the Bible tells us about who God is.
Please be sure to read previous posts in the series by going to the "Who is God" category to the right.
I was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, just about 80 miles north of the Big Apple. My family and I live in Hyde Park, New York, the former home of Franklin Roosevelt, but I didn't let that stop us from living there. Seriously, it's a real nice town, rich with history. My wife Christine and I have been happily married for 28 years and have seven (yes seven) children, five boys and two girls. I am passionate about my relationships, with God and my family, they are the fuel for my creativity and the drive to finish strong.