God Is Good

Joe Slater

“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures
to all generations” (Psalm 100:5
You have probably noticed, as I have, that people sometimes share a
bit of good news and then say, “God is good!” I landed that great new job
I applied for – God is good! The new baby arrived, and mother and baby
are fine – God is good! The medical tests produced favorable results – God
is good!
There is nothing wrong with being thankful and giving God praise for
our blessings. However, I fear that we may slip into a pattern of thinking
that God is good based only on what I consider to be favorable
circumstances in life. What if circumstances aren’t so pleasant? Examples:
I got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and I’m having a
terrible day . . . but God is still good.
The crops got hailed out this afternoon. God is good.
My car was totaled in the wreck. God is good.
Mom’s best friend died last night. God is good.
An earthquake leveled the city. Hundreds are dead. God is good.
When David’s life was threatened by His own son, Absalom, what did
David do? At night he lay down and slept (Psalm 3:5). David understood that
God is good in times of favorable circumstances, but also in periods of trial,
danger, and sorrow. God doesn’t always give us what we want, or even what
we think we need. He doesn’t always tell us why trials confront us or events
occur that make us sad. Regardless, God is good – always!
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though
the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the
flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls – Yet
I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk
3:17-18)