God is Still Good Even When Life is Not
We hear it spoken. We see it on clothing, bags, hats, and as a framed quote.
Life is good.
The phrase rolls off our tongues and scatters across our devices.
It takes the spotlight when our online friend or family member has a new boyfriend, a new pet, a new car or a new “something.”
Perhaps the words are in order when we land the ideal job, get a promotion, win a contest or an award, receive good news on medical tests, or anything that makes us feel on top of the world.
But what about when life’s not good? What then?
Good and Pleasant Things
Because if we put our hope in the ever-changing nature of real life, at the first hint of things going south, we won’t be on top of the world. No, we find ourselves in life’s pit of despair.
You see, I’ve never been a fan of the phrase. And here’s why; look at Merriam-Webster’s definition of good. “The pleasant things that happen to people.”
Oh, I want pleasant things to happen to me. I’m betting so do you.
Sure, some days the pleasant things come. And I’m on cloud nine. But on other days, life’s pleasant things stay far away. Maybe they go on vacation or visit my neighbor.
Or, the good things in life happen to all those friends on social media. You know, the friends sharing the wonderful news and picture to prove that it really happened. And the friends type the words in all caps and add an exclamation point, LIFE IS GOOD!
Yet as Christians, our hope lies in God, not in life. He’s a good, good Father with a never-changing nature. The Lord overflows with love, goodness, mercy, hope, peace, joy, compassion, patience, and kindness. The things that matter. And no matter what happens, God’s still good.
Our hope lies in God, not in life. He’s a good, good Father with a never-changing nature. The Lord overflows with love, goodness, mercy, hope, peace, joy, compassion, patience, and kindness. The things that matter. #GodisGood Click To Tweet3 Ways to Remember God is Still Good
(1.) Change our perspective. Bad days don’t mean there won’t be good days. Life’s a mix of good days and bad days. The Bible never makes this promise, “Life is good.” Not even after we become Christ-followers. But God has promised good to us.
“Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 (NLT)
“You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.” Psalm 65:11 (NKJV)
(2.) Shift our focus. Switch from “Life is good” to “God is good.” Good is not only something God does, but also who He is. God can never not be good. Life changes. God and His goodness never change.
“For I the Lord do not change.” Malachi 3:6a (ESV)
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!” Psalm 136:1a (NLT)
Good is not only something God does, but also who He is. God can never not be good. Life changes. God and His goodness never change. #GodisGood Click To Tweet(3.) Live with expectation. God has plans for our good, brings good from all things, and He offers hope for good in our future. Our expectation is firmly rooted in God, not in life.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV) Notice the promise is not that all things are good, but that all the things work toward our good.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
God is Still Good
Let’s change our perspective, shift our focus, and live with expectation that God’s still good.
And when we hear or see the phrase, Life is good. Let it remind us that life can’t be counted on.
But we can count on God.
God is good.
We serve a good Father.
Which of the 3 areas: change our perspective, shift our focus, or live with expectation do you find the most difficult?
Last week we discussed 3 Ways Redeemed People Tell Their Story.
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Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).
© 2023 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
You knew someone had to respond with #AllTheTime, didn’t you sweet friend? 🙂 What a wonderful reminder of God’s true and faithful nature. He cannot not be good. How I love that thought. There were many times in my life with it was “far from good”, but I can look back upon those times and see God’s consistent presence and blessings even during the darkest times. I prayed to a God I did not know, but in hope, I prayed He would hear me and rescue me. I never realized that in the worst of it, He was already on a rescue mission, one started centuries ago. God’s blessing ma’am.
“He was already on a rescue mission.” That’s a powerful thought and truth. With me too. I’m so thankful to know God’s goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life. We can all look back and see their footprints in our lives…with us no matter what happens.
A great reminder of the goodness of God, Karen. Life in this world is often a mess, and we seem to be going down a spiral of even worse behavior. AND YET, God is still good and always will be. He pursues us. He loves us. He IS LOVE.
Melinda, I pray our expectation for good is firmly rooted in God, not in life. He’s a good, good Father with a never-changing nature.
Thanks be to God that He never changes, and is always good. We can count on Him without fail to bring goodness into our lives.
Blessings, Karen!
Yes we can, Martha. God is good. We serve a good Father. God bless.
I always consider Romans 8:28 to be one of the benchmark scriptures of my life. I like how you put, “all the things work toward our good.” No, everything that happens is not good. Sometimes, it is downright terrible. BUT I know my God will somehow make it good in the end.
So true, some things in life are horrible. I’m thankful God is good and that doesn’t change no matter what happens. “Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 (NLT)
Amen. Our trust is always found in God. Great message.
Thank you, Melissa. God has plans for our good, brings good from all things, and He offers hope for good in our future. Our expectation is firmly rooted in God, not in life.
Great message. You are right–our focus shouldn’t be “life is good” but on “God is good.” Life has ups and downs, ins and outs, and sometimes it can be dizzying. But God is true and steady.
I like how you described life, Jessica. I’ve often thought of it like a free fall ride, sometimes the bottom just falls out from underneath us. Whew! Still God is there and working out our good in some way and His glory.
God is good, even when life smacks us. His mercy. His love. Our focus must be there. Thanks, Karen. God bless!
True, Nancy. Life’s a mix of good days and bad days. And life cannot be counted on to come through for us. But God…He is good and cannot not be good. Blessings!
Amen Karen. I found this all to be true in my life. God is always good no matter my circumstances.
You and me both, Yvonne. I can see the footprints of goodness and mercy following me every time I look back (Psalm 23). God bless
God is good, Karen! Thanks for the reminder to keep our perspective, focus, and expectations on Him.
Yes He is, Lisa. I pray we only expect goodness from our good, good Father.
Psalm 27:13 is one of my favorite verses, especially when life isn’t going as planned. God is so good. I posted your article on my Featured Pinterest Board for Grace & Truth. Thank you for being a part of our link-up. Maree
Hey Maree, thanks so much for sharing this article. So grateful the Lord has promised good to us.
I love the points made that God is ALWAYS good, no matter what, and that He works all things for our good. Not just that things will be good. I believe that life is good, but only because God is good – everything that is good in my life is only because God has made it good, and anything that isn’t good or doesn’t seem good is not a surprise to God because he has a good plan for me. I think I need to express more clearly to others that God is good instead of saying “Life is good” Visiting from IMM today
I like how you expressed your thoughts, Kym. I agree, God is good, has promised good to us and has a good plan for us.Thanks for visiting.
Karen,
When I see the “Life is good” slogan on t-shirts, etc., I’d like to take a Sharpie and write, “Life is hard, but God is always good.” I’m so thankful God never changes (can’t change) His very nature which is goodness. Yes, He allows trials, struggles, and hardship, but He will always bring good from them — especially as it pertains to building our character for His glory. I think I struggle most with “Living with Expectation.” I guess it’s because I don’t want to be expecting “good” and then run into a trial. God will still be good through it, but your post has challenged me to still live with expectation.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Hey Bev, I like your slogan. Now if we can find a way to go to production with it. 🙂 You speak truth. The Bible only quarantees that life is hard, but how God remains good through it all. I pray we can expect good, no matter how tough the circumstances, as we trust the Lord to fulfill His promise of goodness here on this earth. I appreciate your insight to our conversation. God bless.
Karen, thanks for your wonderful reminder. We are blessed to have a good God who is endlessly and always good.
True, Deborah. We serve a good, good Father full of goodness. He can never not be good.
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