Trusting God's Goodness When Life Hurts

We have all witnessed it. A friend receives a devastating diagnosis. A family loses everything they’ve worked for. A once joyful life becomes clouded with hardship. These moments force us to wrestle with hard questions. If God is truly good, why do these things happen? And how do we hold on to His kindness when our world is falling apart?

This is not a small matter. It goes to the heart of how we see God. It challenges what we believe about His nature and His plan. And it calls us to anchor our trust in something deeper than our circumstances.

According to Scripture, God is perfect in every way. Deuteronomy 32 verse 4 says, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.” God is not random. He is not careless. He is not cruel. Every act of His is consistent with His holy and loving nature. Psalm 103 verse 8 reminds us, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.” This is not just a description. It is a foundation. The character of God is good because He is good, not because life always feels good.

Still, the disconnect comes when our idea of a good life clashes with God’s eternal purpose. Most people equate a good life with health, wealth, ease, and success. We believe that if God is on our side, our path should be smooth and our prayers answered quickly. But God never promised a life without pain. What He did promise is that He would use all things for the good of those who love Him. That includes the things we do not understand.

Romans 8 verse 29 shows us God's aim. He is working to conform us to the image of His Son. He is shaping us, not spoiling us. He is building something eternal, not temporary. That means He may allow certain hardships because they accomplish something no comfort ever could. They refine our character. They deepen our faith. They strip away false security and reveal our need for Him.

If you ever doubt the goodness of God, look at Jesus. He is the clearest, most powerful display of God's heart. Philippians chapter 2 shows us that Jesus, though fully divine, humbled Himself. He left heaven. He took on human flesh. He became a servant. He endured mockery, rejection, pain, and death on a cross. Why? So that we could be forgiven. So that we could be adopted into God's family and have eternal life. That is goodness beyond what this world can offer. That is kindness no amount of suffering can erase.

Through Christ, we are given far more than comfort. We are given salvation. We are given purpose. We are given hope that lasts.

So when trials come, and they will, remember this. God’s goodness does not leave when trouble arrives. His faithfulness is not canceled by grief. His plan is not undone by your pain. He is present in the storm. He is working behind the scenes. He is forming something in you that you may not fully see until eternity.

Do not define God’s goodness by how easy your life is. Define it by the cross. Define it by His Word. Define it by the promise that He will never leave you and never forsake you.

This is not just theology. It is a lifeline.

When your heart is heavy and your future uncertain, rest in this truth. God is still good. He is still kind. He is still in control. Even when the healing has not come. Even when the money is gone. Even when the answers do not make sense.

You may not always feel it. But feelings do not change facts. The same God who gave His Son for you is the same God who walks with you now.

He is not finished with your story. His goodness is not a chapter. It is the whole book. And one day, when you see the full picture, you will see that not a single tear was wasted and not a single moment was missed.

You can trust Him. Today. Tomorrow. Always.