We have to stop equating His goodness with our moments of ease, financial security, and preferred circumstances. His goodness does not change, and when we only proclaim “God is so good” when we feel good, we proclaim to the world that we have a fickle god. We suggest, like Job’s friends did, that His provision and blessing are in some way related to our own worthiness and behavior.
Here’s what I know from my own long days in the valley of the shadow: God is present in our tragedy, and His presence is the balm to our wounds. God is sweet to us in our suffering, and His nearness is more tangible then. God speaks through our tears, and we hear Him differently than when we are dancing in our joy.
Yes, He is good. Even in what seems bad.
Consider these words from Job himself, a man who experienced more bad than most of us ever will: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
The implication for us? We are to bless His name no matter what. We are to proclaim His goodness even when we don’t feel it. We are to exalt His name even as we weep.
Job again declares, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15).
The world is watching. And when they see us declaring God’s favor in the bounty but remaining silent in the drought, they believe good times demonstrate His goodness and bad times find Him faulty or distant.
But our God never changes. He is the same yesterday and today (Hebrews 13:8). His love endures forever (Psalm 136).
***
This article originally appeared at JennieGScott.com.
