God is good. This is a very
basic Christian truth that has become almost cliché. People spout it off
without even stopping to think about it. But how can we say that when there is
so much wrong with our world?
How can we say that God is
good when someone is so emotionally drained that they feel like they’re
breaking?
How can we say that God is good when a person has to struggle with a family
member having cancer?
How can we say that God is good when a child doesn’t feel accepted by their own
family?
How can we say that God is
good when there is so much pain?
Well, we first have to start with a definition of good. According to the dictionary, good means "morally excellent, of satisfactory quality, right, proper, or fit". However, this is actually a flawed definition. This is man's definition of "good".
When Adam and Eve first sinned, it was because they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In other words, they chose to define good and evil for themselves. So our definition of good came from a flawed couple who sinned. The real definition of good comes from God.
Sadly, we aren't perfect. But God is. Therefore I can say quite certainly that His definition of good is not the same as ours. As Wayne Gruedem put it:
"The goodness of God means that God is the final standard of good, and that all God is and does is worthy of approval."
Another good quote is by A. Krab:
"God gives us what He knows is good, not what we think is good, so we often disagree with Him."
Alright, so we know that God is good. Still, why do bad things happen when we have a good God? One word: sin. Sin leads to separation from God. God is good. Therefore, sin leads to separation from good. However, Romans 5:8 promises us that "And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good..." In other words, God can and does take something that we deem as terrible and works it for good. We may not get to see the good of it in our lifetime, but He does use it!
This leads us to faith. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" Hebrews 11:1 So faith is instrumental in believing that God is working things for good. Now here's an interesting thought for you! Faith that only acknowledges God's goodness when things are going well isn't faith. True faith is knowing that God is good even when it seems like my world is crumbling around me. In other words, faith is sitting in the darkest pit I've ever been in, and being able to say with firm conviction: "God is only good. God is totally sovereign. And God is completely wise."
Now I can rewrite my earlier list.
Maybe when someone is so emotionally drained that they feel like they're breaking, they find strength in God, because He is only good.
Maybe when someone has to struggling with a family member having cancer, they will be able to tell a story of grace, because God is only good.
Maybe when a child doesn't feel accepted by their family, they will relate even better to their adoption as an heir of Christ, because God is only good.
And maybe when there is so much pain, we will see God as the Great Healer, because He is only good.
