God is Good

There is one thing I know and it is this:  that God is good and His love never fails.  For the past couple of days, I have been completely overwhelmed with a sense of the knowledge of God’s goodness, and it is wrecking me.  It’s as if He has plunged me into the ocean and opened my eyes and said – “Look around – Explore the height and width and breadth of my love for you.  Taste and see that I am truly good.”  It takes my breath away.  It moves me to tears.  It fills me with wonder.  Waves of His goodness are crashing into the weary places of my soul, and I am undone.

And, then the other voice comes – the one that tries to bring doubt and confusion and condemnation.  How can you say that God is good?  Have you read the headlines in the news today?  How do you know that God is good?  What has He done for you lately? 

But, I know. God is good – in spite of the headlines.  God is good – even when my prayers seem to go unanswered.

God is good not because of what He does or doesn’t do.  God is good because of who He is.  He is Yaweh – the great I AM – creator of the universe – defender of the weak – lover of the unlovely – near to those who call on Him – an ever present constant in all of life’s circumstances.

God was good when Jim Elliott stepped onto that beach in Ecuador and was martyred by the very people he had come to help.  God is good when KaraTippetts lies in her bed, dying of cancer, and writing about how to live well and love well.  God is good when you get the news that you finally got that big raise at work.  And, God is good when your family is happy and healthy and enjoying life together.

Paul said it like this in Philippians 4:12 – 13 (MSG):   “I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”

Our circumstances are not the barometer of God’s goodness.  Instead, it is His goodness that enables us to navigate through all of life’s circumstances with the confidence that He is working all things together for our good.

There is one thing I know and it is this:  that God is good and His love never fails.  Selah.