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UNDERSTANDING THE GOODNESS OF GOD THROUGH TRIALS

Hey friends, how are you today? It’s another beautiful day in my neighborhood.  The sun is out.  The skies are blue, with just a few whispers of clouds.  Even the birds seem to frolic as they sing their chorus to the Lord.  Yes… yes…God is good.  How are you doing today? Can you believe that we have lived through the first five months of the year? Has the Lord been good to you? 

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the ‘goodness’ of God.  I’m sure you’ve heard of the old slogan; ‘God is good (all the time). All the time (God is good)’.  I’m sure you can literally say it with me.   

Perhaps like me, when we think about the word ‘good’, usually pretty, pleasant, pleasing and pleasurable are all great substitutes for that word.  A few years ago, I meticulously went through Proverbs 31:10-31.  I believe and still do that the application of this chapter was the standard for my life.

Verse 12 begins with ‘she does him good’.  She does him (her husband) good. Initially I thought this verse meant that I agree with him in everything.  But as I thought of that word ‘good’ I realized that it can’t always mean total agreement.  

How can I ‘do him good’ if I do not admonish nor warn him of possible danger? Doing good is not always pleasant or pleasing.  Nor is it always pleasurable or pretty.  

The Bible tells us God is good.  We are told that ‘all things work together for good’ (here is that word again).  Throughout scripture, we are told again and again of the Lord’s goodness.   

According to the online dictionary ‘good’ means morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; pious. I absolutely love this definition.  What’s the primary purpose of the life of a Christian? Well, I’m glad you ask.  It is to bring God glory.  Yep…that’s it.  

On beautiful, bright, sunny days, it’s easy to bask in the Lord’s goodness.  To believe in His absolute, unconditional, unwavering love.  To hold on to the hope of our confession in Jesus.  

I do admit that it’s hard to see the Lord’s goodness in trials.  When life throws curveballs and the body is wrapped in pain, it’s difficult to understand the ‘good’.  

Is God good in the betrayal of spouse or friend or loved one? Is God good when the diagnosis comes with a terminal illness? Is God good when we can’t make ends meet? Is God good when death knocks on the door of a close friend or loved one? Is God good during the abuse?

When is God good? During the trial or at the end of the trial? Is there an end to the goodness of God? I don’t usually think of the goodness of God during the trials that filter into my life.   Is God always good or is the slogan without merit? 

Hope, faith, belief are the very foundation of a Christian’s life.  We are told in James 1 to ‘count it all joy when we fall into diverse trials’.  Why should we count it all joy? Because God is good.  Trials display the goodness of God.  

Joy is evidence of God’s goodness.  Peace is evidence of God’s goodness.  Hope is evidence of God’s goodness.  Trials come to display the proof of God’s goodness.  The unwavering love of God establishes the goodness of God.  We can experience joy, even as life sends us pain because God is good.

Trials, tribulations, troubles are necessary for our growth as Christians.  Sometimes the Lord allows the problems, other times He sends it.  All to draw us closer to Himself. Because He is good.  He desires a relationship with us because He is good.  

He warns about the danger planted by the enemy.  He disciplines because He is good.  Even if the discipline, at the times doesn’t feel good.   He disciplines because He knows this path leads to disaster.  He is good.  He is always good.  

In trials, He is good. On comfortable and cheerful days, God is good.  God is good (all the time).  All the time (God is good).  This is a true statement.  The proof is eternal life.  The proof is salvation.  The proof is forgiveness of sins.  The proof is answers to our prayers.  The proof is the God of the universe listening to our desperate cries.  He is God.  The King of kings and Lord of lords yet He allows us into His presence.  He gave us His Spirit, Who intercedes on our behalf.  His very presence is with us always.  That’s because He is good.  

The goodness of God may not always feel good.  It may not always look good.  But certainly it is good because our God is in the midst of it.  He defines good.  His character is good.  He says He ‘works it out for our good’ and that’s exactly what He is doing, right at this very minute.  Whatever you may be going through, you can bask in the goodness of God.   

What proof do you have of the goodness of God? Do you always believe in the goodness of God? 

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24 responses to “UNDERSTANDING THE GOODNESS OF GOD THROUGH TRIALS”

  1. God’s goodness sometimes comes to us in the form of lessons to be learned. The process may be uncomfortable but later we realize the results were worth it (Hebrews 12:5-10). I’m thinking of a difficult period of time when my mind wanted to dwell on a troubling situation (and wallow in self-pity, I hate to say!), offering me countless opportunities each day to turn my mind toward Philippians 4:8 kind of thinking, on what is excellent and praiseworthy. Now I’m much quicker to catch myself sliding into negativity and direct my attention to praising God for what is positive. (Still a work in progress though!)

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  2. Yes, God is good … all the time. All the time God is good. He cannot be anything but good. He is unchanging. Even when our humanness is weak and wonders about God’s goodness, he remains good. He doesn’t leave us but waits on us to remember.

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  4. The beauty in a trial is you are able to see God clearer. Some of us have sat on trial physically and spiritually. For me it was both and even through that the enemy wanted me to give up on my walk, my life, my purpose. But I did not give in, I did not know what was at the end of the tunnel for me. I did not know if I would be here on the other end of this computer. But God!!! He gave me a visual of Him going before me in the trial room. It is evident that even in the midst of chaos He is still God. I often think about the woman with the issue of blood and her Faith in Jesus. She heard, she knew, she believed in Jesus and because of her faith she was healed! Could you imagine being on a trial like that and being mentally, physically, and financial drain due to a health condition. Some of us have experience just that. But even through her trial, your trial, and my trial. She saw the good in Christ because she never gave up.

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  6. I like the definition of good being morally excellent. I have often especially in times of stress, used “God is good all the time” and “All the time God is good” as a breath prayer. For me it’s calming and a good reminder. 🙂 I love the song “The Goodness of God.” He has led me through the fire.
    Great post, Brenda. 🌺💕🌺

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  7. How true! The world’s definition of “good” is so much shallower than the biblical one. “Judge not” has replaced John 3:16 as the most popular verse, and yet as you say, a good wife [or friend] isn’t someone who just agrees with you all the time. The rest of the passage about judging says to take the plank out if your own eye first. But then Jesus said now that you can see clearly, do help your brother remove the speck from his.

    (I know this passage was more about God’s tough love, but if we can understand and appreciate it from Him, maybe we can learn to understand, appreciate, and practice that kind of love with one another.)

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  10. That “count it all joy” verse came up today as I visited with an elderly friend, in pain with our changing weather. She said she talks to God about the changes and the pain. We both agreed that we want to draw closer to Jesus, to remember that He’s right here all the time, to speak with Him as our Friend.

    And we sang together, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” 😊

    God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.

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  11. This is absolutely beautiful and wise! I enjoyed this SO much, sister.
    The proof ~ oh, the list I have! The air I breathe! The song I sing! My life! To be here~ alive. Proof.
    Babies, birds, and blessings too many to count.
    Yes, the trials, too.
    I love that definition of good! And to give HIM glory!! Amen!
    God is good~ all the time!
    God bless you dear sister! Thank you!💕🙏♥️

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