God’s Goodness on Trial

Hello everyone,

How can we know the goodness of God when everything around us seems to be evidence of the opposite?  How can a good God exist, when there is such brokenness, and evil done to the innocent and helpless every day?  These are some tough questions frequently asked, and not just in the secret places of peoples hearts, but out load, for all to hear.  Can it be true, that even amongst His own people, God’s goodness is on trial?

In a court of law, a trial is a formal examination of evidence before a judge and a jury to determine the truth.  It seems as though the hearts and minds of mankind have decided to become judge and jury concerning the authenticity of God’s goodness. God’s own creation has placed their Creator on trial.  Perhaps not always blatantly, but certainly in their hearts. Each time disaster or calamity hits, or cruel devastation reaps havoc and heart-ache in the lives of the helpless and innocent, God’s goodness is placed on trial.  

As Christians, I really believe the greatest problem we face concerning knowing and experiencing the goodness of our God, is being ignorant when it comes to His Word.  All the answers we will ever need is found there. The Word provides us with a perspective of the truth, not speculation or assumption based on circumstances.  When we read the Word in faith, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will find what we need to know.  Aren’t we promised that the Holy Spirit will lead us into ALL truth? John 16:13&14 says, “But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.” AMPC.  If we trust Him, the Holy Spirit will reveal the answers to us, but they won’t all come by mental understanding.  It’s our spirits that are able to grasp the truth first.  That’s because we live and move in a realm that consists of and operates by, things seen and unseen to the natural eye.  To know and understand the goodness of God in a world gone mad, is impossible, without having the eyes of our hearts enlightened to the truth of God’s Word.

When we choose to open our hearts to God’s Word of truth, and search for His real character in its pages, we will certainly find Him!  Jeremiah 29:13 &14b says, “Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord,...”. This is a promise He has made and we can rely on, because He does not lie. That’s what Numbers 23:19 tells us: “God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?”  

And when we do find Him in His Word, we find He is undeniably very good!  In fact, contrary to the opinion of those who don’t know Him, and have not opened their hearts to experience His goodness, or their eyes to see it, there is nothing but good in Him, all the time.  1 John 1:5 says, “...God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way].”AMPC

Choose to take time this week to find the good character of your God, in His Word.  Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you, and lead you into the truth concerning His goodness.  Use the truth you find to form a solid foundation within your soul of how good He is, so that you are always prepared to boldly proclaim the truth when others so quickly and easily, with their words of distorted truth, put His goodness on trial.

Much love,

Jenny