“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 shadow of turning” (James 1:16-17). It is very important to recognize that God is the Deliverer of all that is good. Every blessing that any person receives comes down from the Father above. Therefore, it is appropriate for someone who has had something good happen in his or her life to give the glory to God, no matter who that person is, but especially if he or she is a Christian. To declare, “God Is So Good,” is not inappropriate at times like that, and I am not simply criticizing or attacking. I do think, however, that we need to be careful in saying this that we do not fail to recognize that God is good—all the time, even when bad things happen to us. I have often thought of the importance of this perception.
When we suffer, it does not mean that God is not good. One of the major lessons of the Book of Job is that God is just and right, and that He is with the one who suffers. When we are in the midst of great difficulties in life, we still need to understand that God is good. The attitude of the Christian should be that of the song by Jennie Wilson, “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand.”
Time is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
Refrain:
Hold to God’s unchanging hand,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand;
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
Trust in Him who will not leave you,
Whatsoever years may bring,
If by earthly friends forsaken
Still more closely to Him cling.
Covet not this world’s vain riches
That so rapidly decay,
Seek to gain the heav’nly treasures,
They will never pass away.
When your journey is completed,
If to God you have been true,
Fair and bright the home in glory
Your enraptured soul will view.
Remember that we cannot see the “Big Picture” that God can see. What seems to us to be disaster can ultimately work out for our betterment. That does not make the things through which we go “good” on an item by item basis, but it does promise a “good” outcome. Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” I have read of some who have argued that this does not mean that God will make all things work out for good for the individual. I have to respectfully disagree. I look at the context, and it seems to me that it means exactly that. It is an offer of hope, because God is good, no matter what happens.
We need to understand that God is good, always. God’s goodness is not eradicated by the fact that He is just. Those who are in rebellion to Him will be punished. The extension of His grace through the sacrifice of Jesus has made it possible for all men (Titus 2:11) to be saved, if they will come to God in obedient faith. His goodness has allowed us to have the opportunity to repent (2 Peter 3:9).
God is good. When things go well, it is His gift; when things do not go well, He is with us. In the end, His good is displayed in Jesus. God is good—always!
