After I shared the good news of my “all clear” from this pesky thing called cancer, I was overwhelmed by the comments from all those who have been praying and encouraging me along this journey.
Many of those comments were simply, “God is good”.
Those three little words got me thinking. Is God only good when good things happen?
Was God’s goodness lost the day I heard cancer? Or the day I miscarried? Is it lost when a loved one dies or becomes ill?
Is HE only good when whatever trial we’re facing has a pleasant outcome?
Not at all! Thankfully God’s goodness is not dependent on circumstance. He is always good just like he is always holy or always loving.
So why then would such a good God allow bad to happen? I think the answer lies in the story of Joseph. (Genesis 37-50)
He was the favorite son evidenced by his beautiful coat of many colors. But his brothers hated him and wanted him dead. Instead of death, they chose to sell him into slavery.
So now Joseph, the once favored brother is in a strange land. And if that’s not bad enough he ends up in prison, blamed for something he didn’t do.
Why would God allow such things?
Because one night, Pharaoh had a dream. He had a dream where seven skinny cows ate up seven fat cows. And if that weren’t strange enough, he then dreamed about seven skinny ears of corn eating up seven plump ears. No one could tell him the meaning of his dream.....except Joseph.
Joseph explained that there was to be seven years of bounty followed by seven years of famine. He also explained that by putting away extra during the bounty would give them enough to make it through the famine.
That bounty led to famine which led to saving a nation and him being reunited with his family.
All because God had a plan. A good plan.
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
Genesis 50:20
Rain=growth.
Many of those comments were simply, “God is good”.
Those three little words got me thinking. Is God only good when good things happen?
Was God’s goodness lost the day I heard cancer? Or the day I miscarried? Is it lost when a loved one dies or becomes ill?
Is HE only good when whatever trial we’re facing has a pleasant outcome?
Not at all! Thankfully God’s goodness is not dependent on circumstance. He is always good just like he is always holy or always loving.
So why then would such a good God allow bad to happen? I think the answer lies in the story of Joseph. (Genesis 37-50)
He was the favorite son evidenced by his beautiful coat of many colors. But his brothers hated him and wanted him dead. Instead of death, they chose to sell him into slavery.
So now Joseph, the once favored brother is in a strange land. And if that’s not bad enough he ends up in prison, blamed for something he didn’t do.
Why would God allow such things?
Because one night, Pharaoh had a dream. He had a dream where seven skinny cows ate up seven fat cows. And if that weren’t strange enough, he then dreamed about seven skinny ears of corn eating up seven plump ears. No one could tell him the meaning of his dream.....except Joseph.
Joseph explained that there was to be seven years of bounty followed by seven years of famine. He also explained that by putting away extra during the bounty would give them enough to make it through the famine.
That bounty led to famine which led to saving a nation and him being reunited with his family.
All because God had a plan. A good plan.
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
Genesis 50:20
Rain=growth.