“The LORD is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works.” (Psalm 145:9)
When life turns hard, our thoughts often turn with it. Questions we never considered before rise to the surface: If God is good, why is this happening? If He loves me, why doesn’t He stop it?
In Scripture, God never denies His goodness. In fact, He declares it as the unshakable truth of who He is. “The LORD is good to all.” This means His goodness is not situational—it doesn’t fluctuate with our circumstances. Whether we are standing on a mountaintop or walking through the valley of the shadow, His nature remains the same.
But here’s the struggle: in a fallen world, God’s goodness doesn’t always look like our definition of “good.” We often equate good with comfort, success, or the absence of pain. God’s definition reaches deeper. His goodness is tied to His holiness—His perfect purity that cannot be corrupted—and to His loving purposes that aim for our eternal good, not just our present ease.
Joseph’s story is a clear example. Betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused, and imprisoned for years, Joseph could have concluded that God had abandoned him. Yet when he finally stood face to face with those who wronged him, he said, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). God’s goodness was not absent in Joseph’s suffering; it was actively working through it to bring about redemption.
The same is true for you. Hard seasons don’t change God’s nature. In fact, they may be the times when His goodness becomes most evident—sustaining you when you should have fallen, keeping your faith alive when it should have withered, and weaving purposes you can’t yet see.
Your circumstances will shift. His goodness never will.
Cross-References
- Nahum 1:7 – “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble.”
- Romans 8:28 – God works all things together for good to those who love Him.
- James 1:17 – Every good gift comes from the Father of lights.
Questions for Reflection
- How have you experienced God’s goodness even in a hard season?
- In what ways does His definition of “good” differ from your own?
- Where might you need to trust His goodness today, despite what you see?
Prayer Prompt
Lord, thank You that Your goodness is unchanging. Help me trust that You are working for my ultimate good, even in seasons I don’t understand. Anchor my faith in Your character, not in my circumstances.
This devotional is adapted from An Uninvited Visitor: The Suffering We All Face and God’s Grace In It by D.C. Robertsson. Available on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B0FMPKM7ZF
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