Be honest. After that title, how many of you just had the phrase, “all the time” pop into your head? I’d wager it was a fair number. If you run in “religious circles”, then that is a phrase you probably hear pretty often. So often, in fact, that I think it’s in danger of becoming a platitude. Why? This phrase is one we pull out on any number of occasions. Worship leaders and ministers use it to engage the congregation. Teachers and small group leaders use it to open classes. Congregation members use it as filler, when they really want something to say to someone who has expressed some hurt. None of these uses are inherently bad. It is good for worship leaders and ministers to keep interest high. Teachers and small group leaders need to have catchy openings to their classes. Friends need to be able to comfort friends, even when they really can’t think of anything to say.
But how often do we really think about what we’re saying. God is good…ALL the time. All the time….as in, no matter what’s happening. That is a huge statement. What we’re saying, here, is that regardless of the situation in which I find myself, I am declaring that God…is…good. We’re saying that if we’ve just found out we’ve lost our job, then God is good. If we’ve buried our mother or father, then God is good. If our husband was just diagnosed with terminal cancer, then God is good. If we’ve found out that we’ll never be able to have children, then God is good. If our wife or daughter has been raped and murdered, then God is good. Now, I realize I have evoked very horrible images here. But, let’s be honest. If we say God is good, all the time, shouldn’t we mean it? All of these things are painful. They hurt us. We want to draw away from them. So if God is omnipotent, and He allows them to happen, then is He really? Good, that is. Is God good? All the time, or any time?
This is a huge question…one that has been the stumbling point for many in their path to faith in God. And it is a question not easily answered. I could spend the next 40,000 words doing a deep dive into the nature of God and His relationship to us. I expect I’ll revisit this topic from time to time, as well, but for now, I’m going to skip ahead to my conclusion on the matter. God IS good. We can’t always see the proof of it in every situation, but we, as Christians, have agreed to trust it by faith. God brings us into situations that are, ultimately, for our good and for His glory. We’re never promised that they will be easy situations. But He has said that no matter where we find ourselves, if we’ve cast our lot with Him, He’ll be there with us. It is a matter of fact that we have introduced sin into the world. Where sin exists, pain will follow. So, since we have no choice but to deal with the consequences of sin, isn’t it the most comforting thing to know that the Creator of the universe is standing right there with us. Not because He has to. We don’t hold Him under any contractual bond. He’s not forced to help us because He was tricked into it, or even because He promised He would. He helps us because He loves us. That’s it. The one who spoke all that is into existence loves you. He wants nothing more than for you to love Him back. But His love is unconditional. So, if for some reason you can’t find it in your heart to love Him, that won’t diminish His love for you one bit. Nothing you do…NOTHING…YOU…DO, will cause God to love you any less. That, my friends is unconditional love. That is what enables us to say, no matter our situation, no matter the pain and suffering, and confusion, and helplessness that we find presently crashing down on us, as a tidal wave of despair…THAT is why we can truthfully say, “All the time…
God is good.”
