by Lydia Floren
The word “good” often gets a bad rap. “Good” might mean unapproachable, perfectionistic, hypocritical, obsessive compulsive, squeaky clean, self-righteous, pompous.
A “good person” might bring to mind a “goody two shoes”, teacher’s pet, brown-noser, self-righteous prick or a clean freak.
Does anyone really want to be good, or to be around good people? Well, yes, I think we do, because we know that “good” really means honorable, trustworthy, kindhearted, selfless, genuine, approachable, giving, humble.
When we hear “God is good”, what image surfaces? A tall white-robed man holding out a stick, frowning down at us? Is God that harsh, unapproachable, difficult to please, and downright mean-spirited guy we sometimes think He is? No. Definitely not. God is no monster.
God is not out to get you: He is out to bless you.
Remember the aftermath of 9-11? Being afraid to open mail, being suspicious of unaccompanied suitcases in an airport? You would not accept a package, and certainly not open one, unless you trusted the sender. We are every bit as hesitant to trust God sometimes, believing at some level that He really is out to get us, like a bait and switch scheme. Know this: You cannot receive and open the gift of abundant life God has given you without first accepting that God is truly good. God is not out to get you. He is out to bless you.
Here is the truth–God is good: God is loving, joyful, peace-loving, patient, kind, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.
God is
- forgiving,
- generous,
- creative,
- tenderhearted,
- respectful,
- strong,
- honest,
- protective
No one will love you more or take care of you better—both now and in eternity—than God. He is totally trustworthy. There is no evil in God. None.
It is safe to follow Him. In fact, you are safest when you follow Him.
“God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 NASB
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 NASB
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT
“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. ” Hebrews 11:6 NLT
Q: What does God is good mean to you? Share your story below.
My feelings exactly. But, unfortunately, too many define “safety” in a sense that I don’t think you mean. The sun shines and the rain falls on the just and the unjust. God’s safety does not protect from the natural consequences of life in the world — the car that collides with a wall, the barrel of a gun, the ravages of disease. It saves us from the fear of evil, yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
Quite true. God never promises to shield us from adversity. His gift to us is His presence and power in the middle of it, even when our pain is a direct result of our own choices. But at a deeper level (and this is really what I mean by safety) God staunchly protects our identity, value, belonging and calling.Nothing and no one–human or spiritual–can touch that. And if we have accepted His gift, He has promised that our lives will never end, and that eventually we will live in a place without hardship or pain.