GOD IS GOOD, EVEN WHEN LIFE IS NOT
“God is good.” I remember grappling with that idea when I was younger. I often wondered, "Yes, He's loving. Yes, He's kind. Yes, He's powerful. But is He truly good? All the time? What about poverty and sickness, war and persecution? It felt impossible to reconcile all the suffering I witnessed with the God I believed in. I would often ask myself, 'If He's all-powerful, why doesn't He stop it all?'"
Years have passed, and my faith has matured. I've come to realise that God isn't the one causing these things; we are. Poverty, sickness, war, and persecution often result from human actions—our hurtful deeds, abuse of power, and mistreatment of others. We exclude God from the equation when we give in to our sinful nature.
AND Instead of merely observing these issues, God calls us to be part of the solution.
Matthew 5:14-16 reminds us, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
God entrusts us with the responsibility to be agents of change, instruments of His goodness, and bearers of His light in a dark world.
By acting with love, compassion, and justice, we can combat the issues that disturb us.
Secondly, the enemy's strategy has always been to make us doubt His character and question whether He can be trusted. He capitalises on our circumstances, inner voices, and past wounds to spread the lie that God is not good. This falsehood fractures our love and trust in God, hindering our ability to experience His boundless goodness.
John 8:44 reiterates, "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
To counter these falsehoods, we must engage in a battle against these false beliefs. Recognising that believing lies breaks the circle of love and trust is the first step.
2 Corinthians 10:5 reminds us, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
By grounding our thoughts and beliefs in God's Word, we can combat doubt and reaffirm our trust in His unwavering goodness. Love cannot flow when lies are retained, so we must vigorously challenge these falsehoods.
Because the truth is, you will experience the kind of God you think He is!
And He, my friends, is actually better than you think. These verses offer us powerful reminders.
Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him."
James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
Psalm 100:5 "For the Lord is good, and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."
As we grapple with doubts, let us remember that God's goodness is the very essence of His character. When everything else fails, God doesn’t.
P.S. Have you ever struggled with the idea of God's goodness? Share your experiences and insights, and let's confront these false beliefs together.
FOLLOW SABRINA
Sabrina is a pastor and provisional psychologist, passionate about healthy relationships, spiritual growth, and emotional well-being. She is married to Ben and mum to Liberty and Lincoln.
