Oh, how abundant is your goodness. Psalm 31:19 (ESV)
I write this as a letter to a friend—from someone who has faced and still faces hardships. It is often in difficult seasons that we experience God’s nearness and goodness most personally. His presence becomes sweetest when trials are pressing in on us and it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. When we walk through dark valleys, we need to look around and remember the nearness of God to us through these moments.
Here is why this matters: God’s goodness is one of His unchanging attributes. A brief study of Scripture reveals this truth repeatedly. Consider these verses:
- 1 Chronicles 16:34: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
- Psalm 100:5: “For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”
- Psalm 106:1; 107:1; 118:1 (each echoing): “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
I had never truly studied, poured over the scriptures specifically about the goodness of God before. The tremendous encouragement for my soul is the resounding pattern, almost reminders by repetition, that His goodness is actually related to His steadfast love, which endures forever. I, of course had to look up the word steadfast: it means "firmly loyal or constant; unswerving. Fixed or unchanging, unmovable." Its' synonym: "faithful." His love for me. It's steady. Thank you, Jesus.
When you look up the word abundant, it says, "Existing or occurring in large amounts." His goodness is not limited, He literally waits to pour it out on our heads, in abundance. In Psalm 119:68, we are reminded of God's incredible attributes and character: "You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes." His goodness doesn't change because of our trials, our situations, our struggles. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8)
Are you facing a difficult season that seems unending? Meditate on His goodness today. I will pray you can truly know His goodness.
