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?