I too am guilty of this...

“God is so good.” 

It’s a phrase that should make me joyful, because He is so so good. But I often find myself cringing at the sight of it these days. I am not trying to over spiritualize or appear as a cynic with the western church. But there are some truths to be considered in how we view the goodness of God.

It’s easy to rejoice when we get what we want: a baby, a spouse, our dream job, a raise, or a house. It’s easy to praise Him after a sweet year of little drama and dreams being fulfilled. Aren’t those all reasons to rejoice? And we should thank Him when He blesses us with comfortable gifts that we are not owed. He isn’t good because He gives us “good things”.  He isn’t good because we are saved from pain or danger. He is good because it defines Him…apart from our circumstances. Yet so often we link this phrase to our desires being fulfilled.

My concern lies in the moments where He is still good, yet we hesitate to say so. Sitting with a dying loved one, knowing they have minutes left…God is still good.  When your spouse walks out on you to be with another…God is still good. When the baby you have prayed for doesn’t make it through the pregnancy…God is still good. When it happens three more times...God is equally as good. When your pastor comes forth with moral issues to confess…God is still good. When a jerk is promoted instead of you…God is still good. When you are falsely accused and your reputation is destroyed…God is still good. When your grown child walks away from the faith…God is still good. When it seems evil is prevailing, and the innocent are victimized...God is still good. When your adoption falls through and the child you prayed for is no longer...God is still good. When you pray for the salvation of a loved one, but they reject it again and again…God is still good.  When the drunk driver survives, but your loved one doesn’t…God is still good.

And as Christians around the world face true, bloody persecution, are raped, beheaded, imprisoned, and tortured…God is still good. Yes…even to them, He is good. He is so good to them.  (Matthew 5:10)

He is not better to those of us spared from the agony of persecution. He is not good because He chooses to keep us from it, allowing it to be easier for those Christians living in the west. His goodness is beyond that. Contrary to popular belief, Jeremiah 29:11 is not a promise that we will be safeguarded. It’s not an escape from death, torment, or suffering. Those things are inevitable, particularly for believers…of that we can be sure.  Rather, this passage serves as a comfort that He knows the pain and is with you while you persevere. 

Instead of focusing primarily on the sweet gifts, we are equally responsible to praise Him amidst the suffering that can’t be endured alone. Yes, God is good. Say it again and again: when you can’t stop beaming with gratitude, and when you are crying so hard you your sobs turn to silent moans. Because feeling His goodness is not enough…you must know it.

*Dedicated to the persecuted church around the world, who may have just had another terrible year, yet press on with hope...praising still.