Is God Good?

Many are asking these days, “Is God good?” If he is good, how can there be so much suffering? As a child, I pictured God as an all-seeing eye, ready to zap me if I wasn’t good. In my child’s understanding of God, there was no goodness or kindness, just stern watchfulness waiting to punish me for wrong-doing.

A few years ago, I decided to answer this question for myself using the Bible. I discovered that there are a lot of verses that speak of the goodness of God. One of them is Psalm 119:68.

You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

A few verses later, though, this passage made me really ponder my life.

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. Psalm 119:71

Is it possible for God to be good and for bad things to happen in our lives? Does God’s goodness change when something bad happens? I believe that all people with some knowledge of God come to a point in their lives that causes them to wrestle with these questions. For me, it was after a bad car accident. For my husband, it was learning that he has two kidney diseases.

The accident itself wasn’t good, it caused a lot of pain and loss. Because I could physically do so little, I had to choose between focusing on the bad and being depressed, or thinking more deeply on God’s word and what it meant to me. Now I am glad for what the accident brought to my life, which is a deeper understanding of God, and a greater empathy for those who live with chronic pain. I have learned to celebrate the victories in life, no matter how small they seem. I also take joy in helping others celebrate the victories in their lives.

Through difficult times, God can still bring good things to pass if we are willing to seek him. God’s goodness doesn’t change, but my perspective does change. It is up to me whether my perspective will be changed for the good or bad.