How good is God?

This summer I had the privilege of visiting with an old friend. It was mid-morning around coffee as we reminisced over years gone by. She reminded me of something I said to her back in the day, "Don't underestimate the goodness of God." Frankly, neither of us could remember the context of that statement, but we ruminated over it's meaning and application to our lives.

It's so easy to underestimate God's goodness. Maybe it's because we lack the basic goodness to be a fair judge of God's goodness. Goodness, like holiness and other attributes of God are particularly hard for us to recognize because of the damage sin has done to our perceptions. Fortunately the Scriptures helps us because God's goodness is explained in a variety of settings:

We can perceive God's goodness in His creation.

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; (1 Ti 4:4, NASB95)

The beauty and balance of nature, the vast expanse of the sky and the ocean, the twinkle in a baby's eye or dew drop on a new leaf- all aspects of God's creation speak of His goodness.

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. (Ps 19:1–2, NASB95)

Nature is often the first place we begin to see God's goodness. The vast creativity in the world around us speaks to a uniquely artistic Master designer. Even a short trip to the zoo may cause us to realize, "God didn't have to make all these animals so amazingly different and beautiful."

It's often easiest to grasp His goodness when we are in trouble.

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him. (Na 1:7, NASB95)

When hard times hit we have a unique opportunity. We can cast ourselves wholeheartedly on the Lord and trust in Him. We turn to the Lord in faith and wait upon Him, rather than trust in ourselves. During these times His goodness is often revealed in new and vivid ways. Of course hard times can have the reverse effect. We may become hardened and embittered toward God. That is something we must be sure to avoid.

We see His goodness when we lack direction.

Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the LORD are loving-kindness and truth. To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. (Ps 84:11–12, NASB95).

God knows how we often stumble in the darkness, lacking direction and purpose. His goodness is displayed by His willingness to instruct us in the paths of righteousness. He has sympathy for our weak condition as fallen humans, and He never leaves us without guidance, especially to those who are willing to follow what He reveals in His Word, the Bible.

We see His goodness because He is our Heavenly Father.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You! (Ps 25:8–10, NASB95)

As a loving Heavenly Father, He provides for His children- abundantly. There is absolutely nothing He will withhold from us except those things that would harm us. As a wise Father, He is careful to answer prayer judiciously. All prayer requests will be answered- yes, no, or wait. We should never doubt His generosity or His goodness.

God displayed His goodness by sending His Son.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Ro 8:31–32, NASB95)

God proves His love for us, by sending His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on our behalf. He took the death penalty that we deserved. We all have sinned (Ro 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Ro 6:23). God, sacrificed His own dear Son for our sin and disobedience. This should certainly convince us of God's goodness expressed toward us.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ro 5:8.