In the Word: God is Good

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at different characteristics of God—specifically reflecting on how each aspect of His character offers us hope in the midst of our grief.  As we study together, we encourage you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you dig into the infinitely beautiful character of God along with us! 

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
Psalm 34:8

READ:

God is good and everything He does is good. In fact, God is the final standard and ultimate source of all that is good. This profound truth is repeated all throughout the entire Bible. All that God is and all that He does is good and worthy of praise. There is no higher standard of goodness than God’s own character.

The goodness of God is easy to profess joyfully when things are going well, but seems rather difficult to affirm when times are hard. Often our circumstances seem like anything but evidence of God’s goodness. We are surrounded by the brokenness of the world. Our hearts seem to be crushed under the weight of the sorrow we bear. And yet, God’s Word says that He is good. And so we must train our hearts to recognize, or taste, His goodness all around us, even in the darkest of times.

There is no variation in the character of God. He is unchanging. Therefore, God cannot be any less good to you today in the midst of your sorrow, than He was while His Son hung on the cross and bore His wrath in your place. Will you believe that His goodness is enough? That He is enough? Even in the midst of great affliction, you can be confident in God’s goodness.

So take heart, dear sister. God’s goodness is a refuge for the weary and broken. He is able to take what appears to be the worst situations and use them for good—your good. This road you are walking is certainly not easy, but it can draw you nearer to the Lord, transform you into the image of His Son, and be infused with meaning and hope as you rest and trust in His goodness.

REFLECT:

1. What does it mean to “taste” God’s goodness?
2. How is God’s goodness a refuge for those who trust in Him?
3. How have you seen God’s goodness displayed in your life in the midst of sorrow?

JOURNAL:

Write out a prayer to God, listing the ways you have tasted His goodness in your life and thanking Him for using even your grief and heartache for good. Take time throughout this weekend to continue adding to this list.

Ashlee is the Editorial Coordinator for Hope Mommies. She and her husband, Jesse, have four children on earth and two little ones in Heaven. You can get to know her more by reading her blog, Beyond Undone.

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