What Does God’s Goodness Look Like?
What Does God’s Goodness Look Like?
We sang a song this past Sunday in church that you likely have sung in yours as well:
All my life you have been faithful.
All my life you have been so, so good.
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God.
Those are always deeply moving words for me to sing. After five-plus decades of life, I can attest to this.
God has most definitely been good. And God has undoubtedly been faithful.
But how we define those words matters. What does it mean for God to be “good” to me? What does His “faithfulness” really look like on the ground in real life?
My gut-level instinct measures God’s goodness by whether He does what I hoped He would do—when His desires are in alignment with my desires. God has been good to me when He allows my vision of my preferred future play out.
And I naturally feel God’s faithfulness to me…
…when my health is good.
…when my business lands the big deal.
…when my kids all turn out okay.
…when my retirement account is tracking.
God’s Dictionary
But God’s definition of “good” and “faithful” are so much greater than mine. We define goodness and faithfulness through the lens of our circumstances. He defines them by His presence.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are WITH me.” —Psalm 23:4 (emphasis mine)
And on top of that, He sees my whole story within His greater story. He can redeem my pain for His purposes. He knows how disappointment will shape me. He sees how that season of suffering will drive me to more and more dependence on Him.
And He knows that at the end of the Story, resurrection and restoration waits for all those who put their faith in Jesus.
I don’t know what you’re facing today, but here’s what I know beyond the shadow of a doubt:
He is good. You can trust Him. He is with you.
Faithfulness doesn’t mean God always changes our circumstances. It means He never abandons us in them. His definition of good and faithful are greater than anything our current sin-broken reality can throw your way.
All your life He has been faithful. All your life He has been so, so good. Even in your darkest moments.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” —Psalm 23:6
Erik Cooper
Erik began his career in the business world before spending twelve years in full-time ministry, serving on staff at a large suburban church and later as a church planter in downtown Indianapolis. Today, he serves as the President of a family of business-oriented nonprofit organizations that work together to mobilize the marketplace to make Jesus known in the world. He leads The Stone Table, which equips marketplace believers and invests in global mission initiatives, and Community Reinvestment Foundation, a nonprofit real estate company providing high-quality affordable housing in Indiana and directing its profits to missions through The Stone Table.
