THE GOODNESS OF GOD

You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes – Psalm 119:68

What does it connote when we say “God is good”? Does good mean comfortable, easy, or trouble free? If this is the essence of goodness, sooner or later we will discover that not every experience that is connected with God in this life measures up to those definitions. Neither Gethsemane, nor Golgotha, nor the Grave could have been described as “good” from a human perspective. Yet, nothing could ever surpass the Goodness of the Cross and the Glory of the Resurrection!

We can describe God’s Goodness in three broad ways: God is good in Who He Is; in what He Gives; and in what He Does. Psalm 119:68 declares: “You are good, and do good: teach me Your statutes.” God is good and everything from Him is good, no matter how you may feel about it at the moment. When you allow the revelation of His goodness to direct your heart-attitude, even unsavoury situations of life will end up working together for your good (Rom.8:28). Psalm 119: 71 says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Your statutes.”  God brings out His best even from the worst!

Understanding the goodness of God means that you can withstand the difficult circumstances of living in a fallen world knowing He will sustain and provide for you however hard the times may be. You can resist temptations, overcome trials, and be of good cheer knowing that the Lord has overcome the world (Jh.16:33). The reality of life on this side of eternity is that not everything we experience would be comfortable, pleasant or even safe, but we can trust that God will give to us the good things we need to live lives which testify of His love and give glory to His good name.

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Psa.27:13). Many are fainting due to a lack of revelation of God’s goodness. They give priority to the temporal things the world promotes as “good” – possessions, positions, prestige, popularity, worldly power, carnal pleasures, and material prosperity – and miss the better and eternal “things” offered by God. They miss His Presence, Purpose, Plan, Peace, eternal Power, and Good Success. They trade off “Joy unspeakable full of glory” and “perfect peace,” for transient pleasures and broken cisterns that hold no water (1Pet.1:8; Isa.26:3; Jer.2:13).

Beloved, are you walking in the revelation of the Goodness of the Lord in the land of the living? Whenever you say “the Lord is good” what really do you mean? Pray and believe that the Lord will open your eyes to see His Goodness.