I recently wrote this in my journal and thought I’d share it on my blog:

Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
Friday 5th March 2021
It has been a week or two of good news: a minister being brought through brain surgery; an engagement after a long period of singleness; a baptism; and two pregnancy announcements. These pieces of good news always seem to come together. And I can say to them/of them ‘God has been good’. He has been good to these people, but what I don’t voice is the selfish thought ‘God has been good to them; when will he be good to me?’ But I have just thought, God’s goodness in blessing others with things I want or other good things doesn’t mean he isn’t good to me.
The prophet Nahum said ‘The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him’ (Nahum 1.7). God is always good. He changes not, so his attributes do not change either. He is good to us whether we walk in a path of trouble and sorrow or a path of joy. He is good to us whether he has granted our desire or whether he still keeps us waiting for it. He is good to us, even though he is holy and just and we are so sinful and undeserving. God is good, in the good, the bad and the ugly.
Paul writes ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8.28). So whether we feel the goodness of God or Satan causes us to doubt his goodness, if we are one of his children, all that we pass through is for our good because God is good.
Ryland wrote a beautiful hymn, one couplet of which is as follows:
‘I must have all things, and abound,
While God is God to me.’
Hymn 247, Gadsby’s Hymn Book
What thoughts could flow from there!
I have also thought of the time when Moses talked with God in Exodus 33. Moses desired to know God’s presence with him and Israel as a sign that they had found grace in his sight. God promised his presence and rest to Moses. Then Moses said ‘I beseech thee, shew me thy glory’. He desired to see God’s glory. The Lord answered ‘I will make all my goodness to pass before thee’. His glory was so great that Moses could not be allowed to see it or he would die. But he would see his back parts; he would be allowed to see part of his glory. God’s glory is his goodness; that is where his goodness is found. If we can only see a part of God’s goodness on earth, and we are favoured to do so, how great must his goodness be! And it is out of that goodness, the abundance of his grace, that he is good to us, whatever our circumstances.
I was going to post this right after I wrote it, but I am glad that I waited until now. After not the best start to the week, it is good to remind myself of these truths.
With love,
Hannah