God Is Good. All the Time.

We hear that a lot......God is good, all the time, and all the time God is good.  You may have even said it yourself.  I know I certainly have.

God is good.  And He is good all the time.  I don't dispute that at all.

But I am sometimes bothered by that expression.  Not because it isn't true, because I believe that it is.  What bothers me so much is that it only seems to be used when something good has happened.  It is far more rare to hear someone utter that mantra when things are going badly.  And that bothers me.

We are very quick to give God credit when things go well.  We are very quick to acknowledge His goodness in the middle of our mountaintop experiences, when all of life around us is good.

We are far less quick to acknowledge God's goodness in the valleys.  When times are tough.  When we're struggling financially.  When there's been a car accident or sickness or some other setback.

And I'm really bothered by that.  Because He's the same God!  Because He is good.  All the time.  He is not changed by circumstances.  Because He is God.  Because He does not change.  ("For I the Lord do not change."  Malachi 3:6 ESV)

If we really believe the Bible to be true, and if we really believe every word, then we must acknowledge that God is good not because of our circumstances, but often in spite of our circumstances.  If God is good all the time.....and He is......and if He causes all things to work together for our good.....and He does, according to Romans 8:28.......then we will praise Him in all the circumstances of our lives.  We will utter the phrase "God is good all the time" not only in the good times, such as when we get a good report from our doctor or when someone is miraculously healed.  We will also say "God is good all the time" when we get a bad report from the doctor, when our dear friend loses the battle with disease, when there's not enough money to fix the roof. 

In all things and in all circumstances, God is good.  Because He is God.  Because goodness is part of His nature.  Because He does not change.  And in all things and in all circumstances, He is working for our good because that is His purpose.

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son."  (Romans 8:28-29 ESV)

Today, whatever the circumstances of your life, rest in that truth, and be encouraged.  Because God is good all the time.  And all the time God is good.

:Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever."              (Psalm 106:1 NKJV)