When my Husband and I left the parking lot of our first apartment, U-Haul filled to the brim, we were excited for the journey ahead. New state. New surroundings. We were ready. What we weren’t ready for was the difficult season we were driving into. But I tell you what, that season taught us a lot about trusting in God’s goodness.
Before we moved, I was excited, sad, and a little nervous too. But despite feeling all the jitters that come with a new adventure, I was confident because I knew my family was in God’s will: we’d prayed for clarity, we’d received confirmation from God, and our loved ones prayed for a peaceful transition.
Soon after we moved though, our transition became the complete opposite of peaceful.
In fact, it was one thing after another. Less than a week after we’d stepped foot into our new state, unmet expectations and financial burdens gave us a not so warm welcome.
And as if that wasn’t enough, add in job stress and health scares with our close family members. With everything that was going on, my faith was shaken to its core. With each passing month, and sometimes even the day, I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster: Anger. Frustration. Sadness. Disappointment. Confusion.
I was going through it, sis.
I didn’t know it at the time, but the season we’d walked into would last for over a year.
The Harsh Truth…
After we moved, I often thought Why is all of this happening when I’m doing what You’ve called me to do, God? In time, I came face to face with a harsh truth: My faith wasn’t as rooted as I thought it was.
I remember the sting of that conviction not feeling good at all, but I realized that God was teaching me a much needed lesson on steadfastness.
As I spent more time with Him, the phrase, “God is good! All the time! And all the time, God is good!” took on a whole new meaning for me. We say it so often, but do we truly know what it means to say that God is good?
After hearing a message in church about God’s goodness, I took some time to reflect on what that meant, and I was reminded that the words good and goodness carry weight.
They mean uprightness, morally excellent, holy, and pure. They also mean integrity, virtue, and fairness.
So when we say God is good, we’re not just referring to what He can do – we’re referring to His character and who He is.
But not only was I reminded of what God’s goodness meant, I was reminded of three things that helped me trust in His goodness more deeply.
1. god’s goodness is constant.
It’s easy to say God is good when life’s good. I’ll admit that I’ve often said God is good when it’s attached to a blessing I’ve received. Yes, God should be praised in those situations. But only praising His goodness when life’s good might cause us to question His goodness when trials arrive.
And the truth is, God is still good even when things aren’t good.
I get it though – it’s difficult to say that with confidence when looking at everything we’re going through: money’s crazy, loved ones are sick or passing away, stress is abundant…fill in the blank. I cried out to God numerous times after I moved because I couldn’t understand why He was allowing everything to take place.
The thing is, I had to remember that God’s goodness isn’t dependent on what my situation looks like.
The sun rising every morning is a reminder to me that God’s goodness does not change.
And even on days where the clouds make it harder for me to see the sun, I know it’s still there.
So when the clouds of our situation make it harder for us to see God clearly, we can be confident that He hasn’t left us.
He’s still on His throne (Psalm 9:7). He still holds creation in the palm of His hand. He still operates outside of time. And as long as He’s still on His throne, He’s still good, and He’s still in control.
Now that doesn’t mean we have to dismiss the reality of our situation or how we feel. Our situations and emotions are real, and God knows that. What’s important to us is important to Him too. But even as we see the reality of our situation, we shouldn’t lose sight of the reality of God.
2. God’s goodness makes Him both Honest & Trustworthy.
Jeremiah 29:11 promises that God knows the plans He has for us. His plans are for peace and not evil, to give us a future and a hope. This promise confirms that God cares about the details of our lives, and because God is honest and can’t lie, we can stand firmly on that promise and trust that He won’t mishandle our situation.
I know that’s easier said than done, but what encourages me to stand on that promise is thinking of the “go to” people in my life:
I can call them when I need them, I never have to question their motives, and I have assurance that they’ll keep their word and come through on their promises. If I can trust a person that much, how much more can I trust God to handle my situation who is much more faithful than man!
Now, the way God handles our situation may not feel good, but because He is good, it’s going to be for our good and His glory!
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
3. God’s Goodness Teaches Us To Be Content.
Paul writes in Philippians that he’s learned to be content with whatever he has – whether it be much or little, and it’s Christ that gives Him the strength to do it.
Being content with where God has us doesn’t mean that the discomfort of our situation goes away or that we’re happy with what’s happening, but we instead realize that His ways aren’t our ways and we can begin finding peace as we trust in God’s plan.
Remember though, being content in every situation doesn’t happen overnight. Paul says he learned how to be content, so getting to that place of contentment in every situation takes time – and that’s okay.
And the funny thing is, the season that we always try to rush past is where the testimony is. But because it’s uncomfortable, we don’t want to go through it. I’ll be the first to admit I’m often guilty of feeling that way.
I’ve learned that God is often trying to teach us something in the midst of the hurt we feel, so it’s important not to rush past our difficult seasons. Instead, we should ask Him to help us see our trials through spiritual eyes and to help us focus on what He’s trying to teach us during that time.
We can still be expectant and look forward to God’s promises for us, but until He opens a door, we can press beyond our feelings and focus on His hand in our situation.
Okay, sis. Let’s Recap!
Saying that God is good holds weight because we’re referring to His character and who He is. And not only is God good, His goodness is constant, it makes Him honest and trustworthy, and it teaches us to be content in whatever situation we face.
As followers of Christ, we’re not promised a life without trials, but we are promised that we’re never alone as we go through them.
Pause & Reflect
- Write a prayer to God letting Him know how you feel during this season. Ask Him to reveal what He wants you to learn, and to help you trust in His goodness in the process.
- Going through life in isolation is never a good idea, but especially during difficult seasons. We need Godly community so when it’s too hard to open our Bibles or pray for ourselves, we can lean on people that can pray for us and point our focus back in the right direction. And as God builds our spiritual muscle, He’ll give us the strength we need to both pray for ourselves and consistently seek His Word for guidance and encouragement.
- If you’ve distanced yourself from Godly community, take that step today to get reconnected. Send that text. Make that phone call. You don’t have to go through life alone!
Resources
Here are a few songs that uplift me when I’m feeling discouraged – hopefully they encourage you too!
- Lord You Are Good by Todd Galberth
- King of My Heart by Steffany Gretzinger, Jeremy Riddle, & Christine Rhee
- God Is Good by Jonathan McReynolds
- Find My Peace by Naomi Raine
- You’re the Lifter by Ricky Dillard
- Our God is Awesome by Neville D ft Khaya Mthethwa
- Raise a Hallelujah by Jonathan & Melissa Hesler
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