The Goodness of God

In order to know and trust God, we must understand his character.  It is possible, however, to know God's character truly and yet refuse to adjust our expectations to fit that truth.  Or perhaps, we have been persuaded by Satan that certain of God's characteristics do not pertain to His dealings with us.  God's grace and mercy and faithfulness must be reserved only for those people who have it all together, who are perfect already.  That would make sense, wouldn't it, to our finite human minds that have only just grasped the holiness and justice of God's nature?

But here are a few truths that must not slip from our minds even as we view the righteous indignation of a holy God against sin:

God is love.  And here I quote from I John 4:8 (ESV).  We've all heard this before, but have we actually thought about it?  What does it really mean to say that God is love?

[God] is patient and kind; [God] does not envy or boast; [He] is not arrogant or rude. . . . [He] is not irritable or resentful; [He] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  [God] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things  (I Cor. 13:4-7).

How does that picture compare with the one in your head labeled "God"?  He said in Jeremiah 31:3, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."  His faithfulness continued even when His people failed and were utterly faithless.  (I checked the context to make sure He wasn't just talking to the "good" people.)  He loves you and me, not only those fantastic "other people."

God plans for our ultimate good.  I know well enough that this does not always feel true.  But are we to base our faith and trust upon what we feel is true or what truly is?  Even if our life has just been torn apart at the seams or if we wonder how the best could eventually come from the barely adequate position of our current life, God does have a plan for us and He does know best how to execute it.  Our impatience and fearful worrying will not help us get there any more quickly, but they might keep us from the joy and contentment that could be ours along the way. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7 KJV)  That thanksgiving for God's power and benevolent protection is key to experiencing the peace of God because frenzied praying that lacks thankfulness becomes just so much more worrying.

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:26-28 ESV).

 God gives us wisdom.  Although we do not immediately understand the wisdom of God's plans for us, He has promised to give wisdom generously to all who ask of Him (Js. 1:5).  He is a loving, benevolent, and all-wise father not to be judged by any human "likeness" we may idolatrously put before His face.

Trust Him.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jer. 29:11-13).