Learning of His Goodness

Now that we have passed the “most risky” part of our pregnancy and are now over halfway there and without any signs of trouble, I often catch myself thinking, or even saying, that “God has been good.”

Instantly, though, the thought comes to mind:

Would He not be good if we had miscarried (or still do miscarry)?

Would that change the fact that God is good?  

Would I still be so quick to say that He has been good?” 

Of course, we all agree that our circumstances don’t change the fact that God is good, and that He always will be good. 

But our flesh is so much more hesitant to proclaim that He has been good when we go through pain-filled, life-changing circumstances.

We tend to be so short-sighted and earthly-minded that even though we love God and have testified in the past that He is good, we usually gravitate towards declaring God to be good only when our  circumstances line up with what we would define as “good.”  And when they don’t, well, our hearts struggle to say  “Amen” to “God is good.”

But He is good.  Whether or not we can echo the statement.
 
So, if we were to have a working theology of God’s goodness in the context of living in a broken world filled with pain and suffering, what should it be?

Here are a few thoughts:

1. We know that God’s goodness is a part of His character.

James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

 His character does not, and cannot, change.  Period.  So, He will forever act according to His goodness in all of His ways.  Having this understanding before the trials come gives strength to press on during the trials.

2. We know that God gives grace.

Hebrews 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

When overwhelmed with feelings of being alone in this journey of pain from losing our two little ones, God’s Word promises that He is ever with me.  Hebrews expounds on the great High Priest I have who has been touched with these same weaknesses.  In turn, He enables me to boldly approach the throne of grace to find and obtain mercy and grace in time of need.  God does not leave His children alone to walk through those hard times in life when all around seems dark and grey.   Providing the means to go through life by His grace is in itself a demonstration of His eternal goodness towards His children.  He does not leave us to figure it out on our own.

3.  We know that all God does is a reflection of His goodness so that He might glorify Himself through it.  

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12  "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.  That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

4. While God is always good, we still live in a world where all of creation groans, awaiting redemption.  

Simply because God is good doesn't change the fact that there is still pain and suffering in this world.  Somehow, in some way, even though we can't fully understand how the two can exist at the same time, God sovereignly carries out His perfectly good will through the groanings of creation.  Yeah, I know, it doesn't make sense.  But, consequently, we long for the day when we will forever be in His glorious presence, free from sin, free from the consequences of sin.   Through pain, His goodness gives hope--a hope that does not fade away.

Romans 8:18-25 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."

This marvelous truth was one of the specific ways God brought comfort to my heart in the months soon after our miscarriage.  Life hurts. Alot.  But there is no comparison to the hope that we look forward to! Oh what glory we look forward to!  

God is good.  I hope your heart has been encouraged to trust in His goodness.