When God is Not Good
The Goodness of God: A Reminder in Challenging Times
In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, it's easy to lose sight of one fundamental truth: God is good. This simple yet profound statement has the power to transform our perspective, reshape our faith, and guide us through life's toughest challenges.
But what happens when we struggle to see God's goodness? What occurs in our hearts and minds when we begin to doubt His nature? These questions lead us to a fascinating exploration of faith, surrender, and the very essence of our relationship with the Divine.
The story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-22 provides a compelling illustration of this struggle. Here we encounter a man who seemingly did everything right - he followed the commandments, lived a moral life, and even sought out Jesus to inquire about eternal life. Yet, when faced with the ultimate test of faith, he faltered.
"Good teacher," the young man addressed Jesus, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus' response is both surprising and enlightening. He first questions why the man calls Him good, stating that only God is truly good. This subtle exchange reveals a profound truth: recognizing Jesus as "good" is equivalent to recognizing Him as God. It's a declaration of faith that goes beyond mere words or actions.
As the conversation unfolds, we see the young ruler's enthusiasm fade. When Jesus challenges him to sell his possessions and follow Him, the man walks away sad, unable to let go of his wealth. But perhaps there's more to this story than meets the eye.
Notice how the ruler's address changes. He begins by calling Jesus "good teacher," but after Jesus' explanation about goodness, he simply calls Him "teacher." This small detail speaks volumes. It suggests that the moment the ruler couldn't fully accept Jesus as God, he couldn't fully surrender his life.
This story serves as a mirror for our own hearts. How often do we find ourselves in a similar position? We may attend church, follow moral guidelines, and even engage in religious activities, but when it comes to complete surrender, we hesitate. We hold back, unsure if God is truly good enough to trust with every aspect of our lives.
The truth is, when we don't view God as fundamentally good, we struggle to surrender to Him. We compartmentalize our faith, keeping God in one corner of our lives while maintaining control over the rest. We become like the rich young ruler, doing good things but missing the heart of true discipleship.
But here's the liberating truth: God is good. Not just sometimes, not just when things are going well, but always. His goodness is not dependent on our circumstances or feelings. It's an unchanging aspect of His character, as constant as His love and as enduring as His faithfulness.
When we truly grasp this, it changes everything. Suddenly, surrender doesn't seem so frightening. Giving God control over our careers, relationships, finances, and future becomes an act of trust rather than a leap into the unknown. We can confidently declare, "God, you can have it all," knowing that His plans for us are good.
This shift in perspective is transformative. It moves us from merely doing religious activities to embodying our faith. We no longer just do prayer; we become people of prayer. We don't just practice holiness; we become holy. Our faith becomes integrated into every aspect of our being, not just a part we play on Sundays.
But embracing God's goodness isn't always easy, especially in the face of life's hardships. When we're dealing with loss, financial struggles, or personal pain, it can be tempting to question God's nature. In these moments, we must cling to the truth of His character even more fiercely.
Remember, God's goodness doesn't mean an absence of challenges. It means that even in our darkest moments, He is working for our ultimate good. It means that when we're at our weakest, He is strong. It means that no matter what we face, we have a good Father who loves us unconditionally.
The Psalmist reminds us to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). This invitation suggests an experiential knowledge of God's goodness. It's not just about intellectual assent but about personally encountering His goodness in our lives.
As we cultivate this awareness of God's goodness, we find ourselves more willing to trust Him with every aspect of our lives. We become less like the rich young ruler who walked away sad and more like the disciples who left everything to follow Jesus. We discover the freedom that comes with full surrender to a good God.
So today, let's challenge ourselves to truly believe in God's goodness. Let's allow this truth to permeate every area of our lives. When faced with decisions, big or small, let's remember that we serve a good God who has our best interests at heart.
In practical terms, this might mean:
1. Starting each day by acknowledging God's goodness, regardless of how we feel.
2. Trusting God with our worries and concerns, knowing He cares for us.
3. Choosing to see God's hand even in challenging situations.
4. Surrendering our plans and ambitions to His will, trusting His goodness.
5. Sharing testimonies of God's goodness with others to encourage faith.
As we embrace God's goodness, we'll find ourselves transformed. Our faith will deepen, our trust will grow, and our lives will become a testament to the goodness of our God. We'll move from simply doing church to being the church, embodying the love and grace of our good Father in everything we do.
Let us never forget: God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good. This truth has the power to change not just our perspective, but our very lives. May we live each day in the light of His goodness, surrendering all to the One who loves us beyond measure.
In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, it's easy to lose sight of one fundamental truth: God is good. This simple yet profound statement has the power to transform our perspective, reshape our faith, and guide us through life's toughest challenges.
But what happens when we struggle to see God's goodness? What occurs in our hearts and minds when we begin to doubt His nature? These questions lead us to a fascinating exploration of faith, surrender, and the very essence of our relationship with the Divine.
The story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-22 provides a compelling illustration of this struggle. Here we encounter a man who seemingly did everything right - he followed the commandments, lived a moral life, and even sought out Jesus to inquire about eternal life. Yet, when faced with the ultimate test of faith, he faltered.
"Good teacher," the young man addressed Jesus, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus' response is both surprising and enlightening. He first questions why the man calls Him good, stating that only God is truly good. This subtle exchange reveals a profound truth: recognizing Jesus as "good" is equivalent to recognizing Him as God. It's a declaration of faith that goes beyond mere words or actions.
As the conversation unfolds, we see the young ruler's enthusiasm fade. When Jesus challenges him to sell his possessions and follow Him, the man walks away sad, unable to let go of his wealth. But perhaps there's more to this story than meets the eye.
Notice how the ruler's address changes. He begins by calling Jesus "good teacher," but after Jesus' explanation about goodness, he simply calls Him "teacher." This small detail speaks volumes. It suggests that the moment the ruler couldn't fully accept Jesus as God, he couldn't fully surrender his life.
This story serves as a mirror for our own hearts. How often do we find ourselves in a similar position? We may attend church, follow moral guidelines, and even engage in religious activities, but when it comes to complete surrender, we hesitate. We hold back, unsure if God is truly good enough to trust with every aspect of our lives.
The truth is, when we don't view God as fundamentally good, we struggle to surrender to Him. We compartmentalize our faith, keeping God in one corner of our lives while maintaining control over the rest. We become like the rich young ruler, doing good things but missing the heart of true discipleship.
But here's the liberating truth: God is good. Not just sometimes, not just when things are going well, but always. His goodness is not dependent on our circumstances or feelings. It's an unchanging aspect of His character, as constant as His love and as enduring as His faithfulness.
When we truly grasp this, it changes everything. Suddenly, surrender doesn't seem so frightening. Giving God control over our careers, relationships, finances, and future becomes an act of trust rather than a leap into the unknown. We can confidently declare, "God, you can have it all," knowing that His plans for us are good.
This shift in perspective is transformative. It moves us from merely doing religious activities to embodying our faith. We no longer just do prayer; we become people of prayer. We don't just practice holiness; we become holy. Our faith becomes integrated into every aspect of our being, not just a part we play on Sundays.
But embracing God's goodness isn't always easy, especially in the face of life's hardships. When we're dealing with loss, financial struggles, or personal pain, it can be tempting to question God's nature. In these moments, we must cling to the truth of His character even more fiercely.
Remember, God's goodness doesn't mean an absence of challenges. It means that even in our darkest moments, He is working for our ultimate good. It means that when we're at our weakest, He is strong. It means that no matter what we face, we have a good Father who loves us unconditionally.
The Psalmist reminds us to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). This invitation suggests an experiential knowledge of God's goodness. It's not just about intellectual assent but about personally encountering His goodness in our lives.
As we cultivate this awareness of God's goodness, we find ourselves more willing to trust Him with every aspect of our lives. We become less like the rich young ruler who walked away sad and more like the disciples who left everything to follow Jesus. We discover the freedom that comes with full surrender to a good God.
So today, let's challenge ourselves to truly believe in God's goodness. Let's allow this truth to permeate every area of our lives. When faced with decisions, big or small, let's remember that we serve a good God who has our best interests at heart.
In practical terms, this might mean:
1. Starting each day by acknowledging God's goodness, regardless of how we feel.
2. Trusting God with our worries and concerns, knowing He cares for us.
3. Choosing to see God's hand even in challenging situations.
4. Surrendering our plans and ambitions to His will, trusting His goodness.
5. Sharing testimonies of God's goodness with others to encourage faith.
As we embrace God's goodness, we'll find ourselves transformed. Our faith will deepen, our trust will grow, and our lives will become a testament to the goodness of our God. We'll move from simply doing church to being the church, embodying the love and grace of our good Father in everything we do.
Let us never forget: God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good. This truth has the power to change not just our perspective, but our very lives. May we live each day in the light of His goodness, surrendering all to the One who loves us beyond measure.
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