The Goodness of God

“In darkest nights, You are close like no other.” This is a quote from the song “Goodness of God.” I am awake at 4:00 a.m., listening when I should be snoozing. 

I was gonna write about something else today. In fact, I already had it written and ready to go. But this morning, sitting here on my couch, I’m weeping over the goodness of God. There are worse places to be...

I have been having moments over the last few days when I felt God was anything but good. I have been angry, frustrated and questioning God’s mercy, grace and love. I have questioned His listening ear. I have questioned His ability to answer prayer. And to be perfectly honest, I have questioned His existence. I don’t do this often, but I have to occasionally give myself a good spiritual kick in the pants from time to time to get back on track. In the dark of night and the dawn of the morning, I had to do just that today. I had to remind myself that in my darkest night, He stood by me and held me close to His heart. He  was there when no one else was. He saw my tears, and He was moved by compassion to dry them. He didn’t leave me alone. He came and He healed my brokenness.  

When I stand before the Lord, He isn’t gonna ask me about my moments of weakness. He’s gonna ask me where my strength came from. He’s gonna ask me did I receive His mercy and grace when they were running after me. He’s gonna ask me about His Son and what did I do with this great gift He gave humanity. These are things God and I are gonna have a conversation about. 

So, as my heart turns to the One who saved me from despair, I can now state with unwavering resolve, “I will sing of the goodness of God.” Even when I don’t see it, even when I don’t feel it, even when I don’t hear it, I will sing of the goodness of God . Because His goodness isn’t predicated on my opinion. His goodness is predicated on His divine character. And that’s enough. 

There is no shadow of turning with God. His light drives away any shadow of doubt, despair or defeat that tries to attach itself to His light. It is only by living in the light, walking in it on our journey, bathing ourselves in it, that we can know His power, His love and His faithfulness. We are faithless creatures. He is not. 

As as I think about the events of today (and I’m not looking forward to said events because they involve the burying of one of the finest men I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing), I will keep this song in my heart as I pray for his family. My prayer is they will see the goodness of God in their lives. My prayer is even in grief, they will know God’s closeness like no other. My prayer is they will know His faithfulness, His mercy, His grace,  even in the midst of desolation. My prayer is for the comfort of the Holy Spirit, as their loved one is laid to rest.  And even if we don’t understand God’s ways, and we question what He does, our hearts can still sing of the goodness of God. 

“All my life You have been faithful. All my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.”