Jeanne Takenaka
We’ve all sung songs about how God is good. And, if you’re like me, in the moment you’re singing that song, your heart shouts, “Yes!”
But what about when hard things happen? When a pregnancy is lost to miscarriage? When there’s a life-changing diagnosis? When we lose our security? When a kid wanders or rebels? When someone wrongs us and we did nothing to deserve it? When we look at the bigger world and see so much evil?
What about then?
Can I be honest and say, I know God says He is good, but sometimes I have trouble believing it? I believe He is good for other people, just not always in my own life. Admitting this feels like I’m laying my heart bare.
How do we hold onto the belief that God is good when it seems like He’s stepped away from us, like He doesn’t care?
Is God good when we can’t see His hand on our lives?
Here’s what I’m learning . . . we will face life seasons when it’s hard to see God’s presence with us. We may not feel His nearness. Reading His word may feel like an an act in futility.
Maybe, sometimes, we doubt God. Last year, when a family member died unexpectedly, one of our boys began openly rebelling, and I had a scary health situation all in the span of a few weeks, I couldn’t cling to the Lord.
All the big circumstances crashed over me, suffocating my spirit with fear and “What if?”
Yet, part of me knew that what I’ve read, written, and spoken was true. God. Is. Good. I knew it at a head level, but on the heart level, I was struggling to hold this truth close and internalize it.
How do we start living as if we believe God is good?
Our thought life will have an impact on our perceptions about God.
3 truths about our thoughts
- Our feelings will lie to us. We can’t avoid the emotions that hit when life slams us with hardship. But, listening to the lies our emotions tell us is is optional, not mandatory. We don’t have to be submerged by feelings. What we need is to turn our thoughts to Truth.
- Be aware of where our thoughts lead us. When our circumstances overwhelm us with fearful thoughts and uncertainties, we always have a choice. Will we sink into the message of hopelessness, or will we redirect our thoughts to truth?
- Spend time in God’s word before crises hit. When we’re in the middle of a trial, we don’t think as clearly as when life is calm. When we’ve decided what we believe in the calm times, we can lean on that when the storms hit. When we know with all our hearts that God is always faithful, that He’s always with us, that He will never leave or forsake us, this strengthens us when doubt tries to creep in.
What we believe about God when life is good will guide us when life becomes difficult.
How do we form healthy beliefs about God’s goodness?
What we believe about God begins in our thoughts and is embraced by our hearts.
4 changes we can make:
- Guard our thoughts. When we face trials, the temptation to doubt God’s goodness grows strong. We must stop those thoughts when they enter our minds. When we know God’s character, thoughts that try to persuade us to doubt His goodness can be halted.
- Surrender ourselves to Him. There’s an inclination to rely on ourselves to get through hard times. Our culture touts self-sufficiency as an ultimate virtue. But some trials are bigger than we are. They will drown us if we try to tread water in our own strength.
We may grapple with many emotions in our hard seasons. And it’s difficult to stop fighting in our own strength and trying to force things turn out the way we want.
Surrendering our plans and desires into God’s hands calms our spirits, thoughts, and hearts. This doesn’t mean the circumstances become easier, but we have the confidence we’re not in them alone. When we yield our plans and desires to the Lord, He brings about His best for us.
When we are tempted to doubt God’s goodness, we mustn’t allow what’s happening in our lives to dictate what we believe about Him.
- Sometimes, we need a perspective shift. When hard situations swirl around us and spin within us, we need to remember how God has brought us through other tough times.
Over and over in the Bible, God shows He is good. If God says He is good, then He is good. Our Father is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We can cling to this truth and find comfort when life overwhelms.
- When we find ourselves doubting, we need to confess this to the Lord. He is big enough to handle it. And, our Father is loving enough to confront our doubt and help us in our unbelief. Will we trust God?
Heather Riggleman shares this in a blog post about God’s goodness: “To say that God is good means God always acts in a way that is true, noble, right, and good.”
God never promised us an easy life. He said we would face trials this side of heaven. We need to stop viewing our trials through a lens of “How could this happen to me?” Let’s reframe our perspective to trust God is working in us and in our circumstances. He will bring about His good and ours. Believing this helps us rest in the truth that our Father is good.
7 Important Perspectives for When We Doubt God Is Good—We need to stop viewing our trials through a lens of “How could this happen to me?” Let’s reframe our perspective to trust God is working in us and in our circumstances… Click To Tweet
Conclusion
As I walked through and beyond those anxiety-filled weeks, I grappled with my own belief issues. I had to acknowledge my unbelief and ask for God’s forgiveness. I asked Him to renew my heart and mind. And in His faithfulness, He did.
The process to change what we believe takes time. We must redirect our perspective and alter our thoughts about our ultimate foundation. Do we rely on ourselves or on God?
One of these wrecks us. The other redeems us. Which will you choose?
What about you? When you’ve faced trials, what has been your perspective about God? What helps you cling to the truth that God is good always?
Come share your story at the Tell His Story linkup. Connect and be encouraged by like-minded friends! #tellhisstory #linkup Click To TweetMost weeks, I link up with Grace and Truth, Anita Ojeda, Instaencouragements, and sometimes Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Thank you for your honesty in sharing here, Jeanne. It is hard to sense God’s goodness sometimes when life is difficult. Thank you for this encouragement to hold to the truth rather than being swept away by our feelings or feeling like we have to try to fix it all ourselves. I think your point that God never promised us an easy life is important to remember. Somehow it’s easy to think that if we’re praying and seeking to follow him then things should work out but in John 16:33 Jesus actually promised the opposite.
Thank you for the reminder that though we all have times when we doubt that God is on our side, He is always near, waiting for us to reach back out.
Thanks for your words, Barbara. I’m so thankful for God’s unfailing faithfulness.
Boy have I been there. Thank you for this.
Thanks for being here, Lauren!
Lovely pictures, Jeanne! I love the thought of surrendering myself to Him. It can feel so hard to cross that bridge in the dark moments of life, but once we do it there is peace.
Amy, I know what you mean about how hard it can feel to surrender to the Lord, especially during the hard times in life. But there’s definitely a peace that comes when we trust Him with our very selves, isn’t there??
Wonderful post, Jeanne. God’s goodness is one of those bedrock divine attributes that have held me fast for many years (along with His sovereignty). I especially love this: “When we’ve decided what we believe in the calm times, we can lean on that when the storms hit.” Your words about doubt remind me of something my pastor said not too long ago—that we should “doubt our doubts” and question our questions.” I found that to be really helpful.
Oh, Lois, I so appreciate your words here. And your pastor must be a wise man. There’s so much insight in his comment!
Panic is an insidious thing Jeanne. And if we aren’t vigilant we can bathe in it very quickly when we are impacted by the unexpected events in life.
I find deliberately stopping & taking a long breath helps us to place our focus back on the Lord & then slowly we can feel His presence & peace.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Jennifer, I have also learned the calming benefits of long, deep breaths to help me place my focus back where it needs to be: on Jesus.
God’s word is a light in our darkness. I wonder why we grapple trying to find our way through the hard times when He is right there, and given us all His wisdom (His life)? We sure make it hard on ourselves, don’t we? I guess it comes down to simply keeping the faith, no matter what. The alternative is stressful, yet I can pick the other way instead of His way. It really comes down to simply keeping the faith. Thanks for being one to point us in His direction.
Lynn, I so appreciate your honesty here. I’ve also been the one who picks the other way. I think you’re right. It really comes down to choosing to keep the faith no matter what. Thanks so much for your words, friend.
This message is filled with hope and encouragement. Thank you.
Thanks for your encouragement, Melissa. 🙂
Jeanne, I love Randy Alcorn’s words, “The faith that can’t be shaken is the faith that has been shaken.”
Debbie, Randy Alcorn is amazing in the way he talks about theology and walking out our faith. I have heard that quote. Thanks for reminding me that he shared it. There’s such reassurance in it!
Jeanne, great article! I do appreciate your vulnerability, life is hard sometimes, and if we’re honest we at times question God’s “good” choices for us. I think this stems from our penchant to categorize “good” and “bad”. Our labeling determines our feelings and attitudes.
That being said, I do love your practical suggestions, especially spending time in God’s word, but I would add it is so important to seek God’s promises in the midst of our trial. To store up truths beforehand, but then go back to those truths when our hearts and minds are in turmoil.
God’s ways are higher than our ways and He sees what we cannot see. He predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son and will use whatever methods He deems good for that purpose. Even those things we view as “bad” become for our good and His glory.
Donna, I so appreciate your wisdom here. Yes, storing up God’s truths in the good times enables us to recall them during the struggles. There have definitely been times when I’ve clung to God’s truths and promises in the difficult seasons of life…because I’d internalized them during the calm times.
“When we’ve decided what we believe in the calm times, we can lean on that when the storms hit.” Jeanne, this is so true. I am finding by staying in Scripture daily, when difficulties hit, I remind myself of the many times God was faithful. Doubts don’t get to creep in as easily.
Joanne, yes, staying in the Scriptures daily makes such a difference when the difficulties hit. Like you, I have to remember the many other times in the past when God’s been faithful. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thanks for sharing your wisdom here, friend!
Truth is the bedrock supporting our souls when everything else falls.away. Sometimes we have to be especially observant of the places we allow our minds to visit.
Yes and Amen to ALL of this wisdom, Michele!
Beautiful post! Your points are so true. When I’ve gone through hard circumstances, I just clung to His promises.
Amy, knowing and clinging to God’s promises is a powerful way to work through the hard seasons of life!
I especially like the point about getting to know God in good times so we’re secure in the knowledge of His love and care when hard times hit. Then, when they do, and we can’t see God’s goodness in the situation, follow the psalmists’ examples and remind ourselves of His truth and His character.
Thanks for sharing your insights here, Barbara! It’s kind of reassuring to know others (like David and the other psalmists) had to come to terms with their beliefs and then stand on them, isn’t it?
Hi Jeanne, Your post is such a confirmation of my struggles right now. You wrote, “I believe God is good, but not always for me”? I do feel like that sometimes and its not true or right. This weekend at church our pastor told us this: Fact – faith -feelings: We should check our thought/feeling against the Fact of God’s word, apply Faith to it, and our Feelings will begin to change and re-orient themselves to God’s truth. Great post. I’m a bit early, I’ll be back to link up later
God bless
Tracy
Tracy, thanks so much for stopping by! It sounds like the message your pastor shared was really good! We have to remember the Facts of God’s word and hang our faith on those truths, don’t we? And yes and amen to not allowing our feelings to dictate our beliefs. Thanks for sharing your wisdom here!