When the World Feels Dark: Why God is Still Good

Our world is depressing isn’t it? Our news and social media feeds are full of negativity, comparison, fake news, real news, everyone posting life highlights and hardly anyone posting the lows.

It makes you wonder if there’s anything good in this world. I’m sorry to say… there’s more evil than good.

Now before I lose you, because this is supposed to be encouragement, there’s a reason it’s more evil…but there is hope!

This world is run by Satan. That happened as soon as the fall occurred in the garden of Eden. Jesus even told us Satan was ruling the world right before He left and went back to heaven. The hope is that if you know Jesus you’re a child of a good, good, God.

When we stop to think about God’s goodness and who He is, that He chose us and sacrificed His only son for us so we can live in a perfect the world for all eternity only because He loves us!

He is a God who forgives all, heals our diseases, redeems our life from destruction, crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies, satisfies our desires, gives righteousness and justice, is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in mercy- meaning He doesn’t punish us according to our sins, is full of compassion for those who fear Him, blessed us with every spiritual blessing, chose us, adopted us, accepted us into His family by sacrificing His one and only Son despite our evil and prideful ways. (Psalm 103, Ephesians 1)

What a good, amazingly gracious God!

However, we start to doubt whether He truly wants good for us or is a good God. I get it. I’m still in the middle of years long health battle that is excruciating. There are days I wonder if God lost my number. But there are also days, when I truly open my eyes and heart, I see God at work.

So, you see, I understand if you wonder if God is good because of…

healing that hasn’t come

another baby lost

people not coming through for you

the job loss

the diagnosis

the abuse you endured or trauma that ripped your life apart…..I could go on.

I get it… but I also get how we as humans try to deal with it instead of with God. (By the way, no judgement from me – I do these too!)

Mindlessly scrolling social media or other apps, computer games, TV, cooking, eating, sewing, working, reading, shopping.

How often have you said I just need… (fill in the blank with coffee chocolate or whatever) to deal with something?

I hear your objections. These things alone aren’t necessarily “bad” but they can be a sin when we use them to replace God’s comfort for us.

God alone is our comfort and peace and only in Him can we know true joy and contentment. (Psalm 16:11)

Thankfully He is a good and gracious God, and we see it and His gentle correction and love when we do these things. We are convicted, not condemned, about our choices.

We can be thankful His mercies are new every morning and His compassion fails not – because great is His faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 Those verses continue with the “Lord is my portion says my soul, therefore I hope in Him.”

Our hope is only in Him!

He is so good and He is faithful and just to forgive our sins. (1 John 1:9)

That is our awesome and amazing hope. That God is so good and also kind, gentle, and loving. Knowing how massively we would screw up, and yet still saying, “I want you in my family because I love you so much.”

For those of you struggling to see God as good. I get it. I’ve been there. When the song, “Goodness of God” came out, I couldn’t sing it. How could I with all the abuse I endured? But it’s not about me or my life, it’s about how He is always the same, yesterday, today, and forever. He is good and wants good for us. He hurts when we are hurt, and delights when we delight. He is a perfect, holy, unchanging, most loving Father. If you’re not there yet, that’s okay. Ask Him to help you. He will, I promise.

Challenge
List a coping mechanism you use instead of God. Or If you struggle to see God as good sit with Him in that and pour out your heart as to why. Ask Him to open your eyes to His goodness.

Ask God to show you if you can’t think of a way you cope instead of turning to Him, and then ask Him for His gracious forgiveness and to fill you with the peace, love, and strength only He can give.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV

Recite who God is:

God: forgives all, heals our diseases, redeems our life from destruction, crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies, satisfies our desires, gives righteousness and justice, is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in mercy, is full of compassion for those who fear Him, blessed us with every spiritual blessing, chose us, adopted us, accepted us into His family by sacrificing His one and only Son despite our evil and prideful ways. (Psalm 103, Ephesians 1)

God is so, so good!