This phrase has been around awhile, and us millennials probably know it most through the invention of ‘Christian memes’, but how often do we read it or say it to ourselves and really, truly and deeply mean it? What does it actually mean that God is good all the time?
In my life, God has demonstrated His goodness so beautifully, so many times, but one that stood out to me was there was a situation in my life where I had lost something very precious and I was so angry towards God. Even though I knew that what I felt God had taken away from me, I trusted was with my best interest at heart (somehow!), I struggled to connect with God and spend time with Him because I was hurting so much and I didn’t understand even a glimmer of why He had allowed this. But during that season God didn’t turn His back on me, or just leave me be at all, even though He certainly had the right to. He not only kept showing up for me and revealing Himself and His love for me everywhere I went, but He provided multiple opportunities for me to actually serve and love others, and share my faith. Personally I felt like it was the worst time in my life to be doing things like this. But because of the place I was in, whatever I said came from a very real and relatable place, which was awesome, and I really had to pray and rely on the Holy Spirit to help me because I felt like my own tank was empty, and so God was able to work straight through me. It was incredibly humbling and I felt so loved that even in my brokenness God still saw me as someone He wanted to use. And it was one of the things that really helped me get back on track. His goodness is far more amazing and present than we may think or see, and so no matter what stage of your faith you are in, God loves to partner with you and use you for His kingdom and for our own benefit as well.
God is good all the time, does not equal “life is good all the time’ but even when we don’t see it or feel it, He is still good, He still has our best interests and He is doing things for our ultimate good because He’s the only one who can see the bigger picture. So the question is, do we believe Him when He says that He works for our good? Do we trust Him to have a plan and a purpose for us that is for an abundant life, full of meaning, love and joy? Do we trust that He is still good even when really bad things happen? And even though we may trust Him overall, do we trust He is good every day? Our feelings will say no, but if we know His promises and His character through His Word and spending time with Him, then in our head we know that He is good, and we can cling to that truth and wait for our feelings to catch up.
So if God is good, and we are made in His image, then we need to work on being good too! Goodness is one of the fruits of the Spirit and therefore one of the attributes that we need to have evident in our lives. Being ‘good’ is more than just not doing evil, and it’s more than just righteousness as well. Righteousness is being morally correct and doing the right thing, which God does call us to do, but goodness goes beyond that to what is beneficial. Essentially the why behind righteousness. When we make good choices, we (usually!) reap good consequences - it can be really hard because doing good often goes against our natural flesh desires and against the grain of the world. And sometimes it can be so long before we see the good consequences that come out of the good choice, but Galatians 6:9 says 'And do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Notice that it doesn't say "as soon as you do, you shall be rewarded", it says IN DUE SEASON. God's timing, not ours! But just because we can't see it, doesn't mean it's not worth it. "Don't lose heart" - It will be worth it!!
So today, look around for examples of how God has been good to you this week. How He has shown His love, how He has blessed you, how He may have opened or closed doors for your ultimate good and how He has used you to be a witness for His glory. And keep "pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14.
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