God Is Good Even If…

Do you believe that God is good? Always? Even if life is torn apart? Sometimes trials come to test our trust. Do we really believe that God is good when we lose our job? When a child walks away from the faith? When our health becomes unclear and uncertain? Our theology will affect how we respond to these trials. If we do really believe that God is good, then we know that He is only allowing these circumstances for a good purpose. If we are believers in Jesus Christ, one of God’s children, adopted into His family, then we know that He has begun a good work in us (Philippians 1:6) and He will not fail to complete that good work. “He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) The God Who demonstrated His love for me by sending Jesus to die in my place, to bear His wrath against my sins, will not then turn His back on me. If something awful and horrible happens to me, it is because ultimately God will use it for my good and His glory. It may appear horrible and may be horrible from a human perspective, but God will use it for His purposes to bring about good. We see this in the story of Joseph in Genesis – his brothers sold him into slavery and he spent many years in a dungeon prison, yet eventually, he became a ruler in Egypt and was able to save his family from starvation. All those years of difficulty were still part of God’s plan for him – to bring about good and the saving of God’s people.

I have been tentatively diagnosed with a chronic illness, a bladder disorder. I won’t be able to get in to see a specialist for a few months. For now, I am changing my diet to see if that will help my symptoms. As I face what I may have to live with for the rest of my life, I am reminded that God is good. Even if my health is not what I want it to be. Even if my life has been radically altered by what I can and can’t eat. God is still good! And He is working out His purposes for my life so that He will get the glory and I will be conformed more to the image of Jesus Christ.