God is good—even when life is not

Linda Buxa

As part of our mealtime prayers, my family occasionally says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).

At one church my family attended, every worship service began with the pastor saying, “God is good.” Then the worshipers replied, “All the time.”

When people I love talk about healing, recovery, restored relationships, and seeing God say yes to their prayers, they say, “God is good.”

I love when we give God the glory for the way he is working on this earth. Still, a nagging voice makes me wonder if we really believe that he is good—all the time. Maybe it’s the loss of a job or struggles in church or battles with temptation that make you silently question his goodness. At every natural disaster, hurting hearts question, “If God is good, why did he let this happen?” This year, we might be gathering around a Thanksgiving table with breaking, grieving hearts. That’s when we need the reminder that even when the situation is not good, God still is.

Sometimes we proclaim, “God is good!” with confidence, believing he will work good from hardship. Sometimes our voices shake, because we know he is good but are struggling to see how. However we say it, faith trusts that God will work all these hard things for the good of those who love him. For your good.
Because he is good, and his love endures forever.

Devotion used by permission of Time of Grace®. For more information, visit timeofgrace.org