3 Ways to Remember God’s Goodness When Life Is Hard
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Questions about God’s goodness typically come when people experience struggles in life. I remember a Bible class in which the professor told us that people so easily question the goodness of God when life is difficult, but not when they encounter something beautiful or joyful. Often, we do not stop to think about how the good things in life point us to the goodness of God.
Nature and provision for life remind us of God’s goodness, but so does Jesus’ sacrifice. A person might wonder what Jesus’ death on the cross has to do with their suffering or why it is relevant to the question of the Lord’s goodness and love.
However, the Bible shows us that the cross and the empty tomb are the ultimate examples of God’s love and provide the answer to the darkness in the world (1 John 3:16; 4:10).
Jesus suffered and died on the cross to pay the price of our sins (Romans 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The anguish He felt bearing the weight of all the world’s sins and experiencing separation from the Father was more terrible than we could ever imagine (Matthew 27:46; 1 Peter 2:24).
Christ is the Suffering Servant — “a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief” (Isaiah 53:3, NLT). If we ever think that the Lord does not understand our suffering, we need only look at the cross.
Furthermore, His love and goodness are demonstrated through His sacrifice. He endured the shame and pain of the cross because He loves us (Romans 5:8; Philippians 2:8). Humankind did nothing to deserve this love; Christ freely gave it to us.
Since God is good, He did not leave us in the darkness of sin and death. Instead, He provided an answer to our suffering.
Through Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection, death and sin were defeated (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Those who trust in Christ receive freedom from sin’s enslavement and the gift of eternal life (John 3:16; Galatians 5:1).
One day soon, believers will no longer endure hardships and suffering, for He will wipe away all tears (Revelation 21:4). Death will no longer steal our loved ones away, and grief will not touch us. We will be free from the curse of sin (Revelation 22:3).
Meditating on what Jesus did for us can help us remember that He is good. The Lord could have left us in our desperate state but did not.
God the Son came to die in our place and gave us the offer of new life by trusting in His death and resurrection. Not only that, but He understands our struggles and empathizes with our pain. Our Savior is loving and good.
Circumstances change, bringing moments of joy and celebration, but also times of grief and despair. In every situation, though, one thing remains the same. Our Lord and Savior is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
If we ever need a reminder that He is loving, kind, and caring, we can look to the beauty of nature, God’s provision to all creation, and His loving act of sending His Son to die for us.
Darkness exists in the world, but God is still good. He will never change.
For further reading:
6 Things to Do When You Feel Overwhelmed by Suffering in the World
What Does the Bible Say about Hard Times?
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Sophia Bricker is a freelance writer who enjoys researching and writing articles on biblical and theological topics. In addition to contributing articles about biblical questions as a contract writer, she has also written for Unlocked devotional. She holds a BA in Ministry, a MA in Ministry, and is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing to develop her writing craft. As someone who is passionate about the Bible and faith in Jesus, her mission is to help others learn about Christ and glorify Him in her writing. When she isn’t busy studying or writing, Sophia enjoys spending time with family, reading, drawing, and gardening.