Have you ever questioned God's goodness? Ever looked towards heaven during a hard time and ask, "don't you care". Knowing God has the power to give and take away at will can be a hard thing to handle sometimes. You know God has the power to help, that with one word He could stop a storm if He wanted to. Often times in my life, I have wondered why God didn't provide for my family in an "easy" way (aka, my way). He always chose the option that would require the most trust and faith. It's ok to ask "Is God really good?" Now, I don't want to raise your hopes. I DON'T know the answer to why some people are rich and others poor. Why some people die at age 6, and some at 98. I don't understand why life is handed to some on a silver platter, and others have to work and struggle for everything. However, I do know to the core of my being that God is good. I'll explain why a little later.
Hardtimes are difficult, that's why they are called, "Hard- times". They make you question everything, and can shake you to your core if you do not enter them correctly. As servants, and believers of Jesus Christ we must go through struggles CLINGING! Clinging to the knowledge that God IS good, that He IS loving, and yes, that He IS in control. CLING to His promises. CLING. Be like a child who has just gotten hurt. Who do children run to when they're hurt? To their parents arms. RUN to God's arms, and cling with all your might. It's ok to rely on God, He won't let you fall. I know someone who reads this will ask the question I have asked many times, "But what if He has let me down?" God has not forgotten you. Nor, has He let you down. We can only see a fraction of what God sees. I promise that He is holding you in the palm of His hand where your name is written. Trust God again, for He IS trustworthy. I cannot count how many times in my life when I have gone through a trial, and God walked through it with me. "I have not forgotten you" He would whisper to my heart over and over.
I once heard Andy Stanley tell a story that went something like this:
A friend of Andy's had a son that was starting to get into trouble at school. The boy had become rebellious, and one day went out with some of his friends. They went and parked in the school parking lot, and one of the kids had brought alcohol. The principal found out, and called the Dad.
The principle was going to let the son off pretty easy, but the Dad wouldn't hear of it.
"What is the maximum punishment that my son can get for his offense?" The Dad asked, the principle explained that it was suspension for two weeks. The Dad accepted, and asked the principle to start the suspension. The son was angry and hurt when he found out.
However, instead of allowing the son to go through the punishment alone, the Dad took two weeks off from work. He spent those two weeks getting to know his son. They played catch, studied the Bible, watched sports, and had talks that they never would have had otherwise.
That is how our God is! The reason everything bad happens is because of SIN as a whole. Not personal sin, SIN. The curse that was put on the earth at the beginning of time. We live in Enemy territory. However, instead of leaving us to face difficult, painful, times alone. God spends that time with us. He walks through our pain with us. He cries when we cry, and laughs when we laugh. God IS loving and good.
I know that's not the best answer. But I hope that helps to answer the question in some way for you, as it did me. I would encourage you to look up Andy Stanley's sermon series called "Is God Great? Is God Good? It helps explain things much better than I ever could. God bless.
