God Is Good, Even in Your Pain
by Larry Purvis
When you're in the middle of a storm, it can be hard to see the good in what's happening. It's easy to feel like God has forgotten you or that He doesn't care about what you're going through. Perhaps you're going through a trial or grieving the loss of a loved one. Maybe you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed out from life's demands. Or maybe you're just questioning whether He is really there at all. Either way, God's goodness can seem so obscure in these moments.
My wife and I are familiar with that experience. In early 2020, Yesenia lost her dad to cancer. It was a very short battle. One moment he was strong and healthy; the next, he wasn't. He was known as a working man -- a man's man, but cancer had ravaged him to the point that those images of him were but mere memories. It's been two years since his death, but Yesenia still thinks about him daily. She misses his laugh, his wisdom, and his unconditional love. Losing him was incredibly difficult, but she's grateful. She's grateful because she can see God's goodness in her life and believes that He will continue showing His goodness to her.
King David also speaks to this when he says,
"I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." - Psalm 27:13
David knew that if he allowed himself to focus on the difficulties and trials of this life, he would lose hope. He knew that he had to keep his eyes on God's goodness -- even when it was difficult to see.
When we are facing trials, it is important for us to remember that our difficulties are not an indication that God is not good. He is good when the world is not. He is steady when everything around us feels shaky. Even when our “whys” go unanswered, God is good. Simply put: Our circumstances don’t alter His character.
A friend of mine recently pointed out that in moments like these, we have to step back, take a minute, and separate our feelings from the truth. I think that's wise because it's easy to lose sight of the truth and allow our emotions to dictate what is true.
This doesn't mean we have to pretend like everything is okay when it isn't. We can come to God with all our anger and pain, knowing that He understands, cares, and is steadfastly loving.
We see God's goodness and love most clearly in His Son, Jesus. In Him, God has offered us the good gift of Himself. Through Him, we have received forgiveness of our sins, adoption into His family, and the promise through His Holy Spirit that He will dwell with us forever. Because of this, we can trust that He is always good, loves us, and desires what's best for us. All of this He has proven at the cross.
We can also trust that God's goodness is active even in the small details of our lives. Evidence of His goodness is all around us -- in the good memories of our loved ones, the kindness of our family and friends, and the strength God has given us daily to move forward.
Not only so, but we can trust that God is good to bring purpose out of the pain. We see this in how He is presently shaping us into the image of Jesus, using our story to encourage others, and in how He is preparing to make all things new.
If you ever find yourself doubting His goodness, remember that for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross for you! He was good to you, even in His pain, and He is working all things together for your good, even now as you put your trust in Him.
Take some time to reflect on the evidence of God’s goodness in your life. Write them down and keep them close. Maybe you need to remind yourself of some of the big ways He's been good to you, or maybe the small things stand out most. Whatever it is, let those truths be a light in the darkness and a source of hope as you move forward.
As Psalm 31:19 says,
"Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You."
God's goodness is always there for us, even when we can't see it. Let us not forget that.
What evidence of God's goodness do you see in your life? Share in the comments below!