Give Thanks for God’s Constant Goodness
By Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” – 1 Chronicles 16:34, NIV
Every morning, I start my day with two practices that each highlight contrasting realities. I pray, which centers my mind on the good news of God’s goodness. Then I read the news online, which unfortunately often features bad news about what’s happening in our broken, fallen world. I pray about the bad news stories I read, because I know that ultimately, good news will come out of even the worst situations as people seek God’s help. Since God is good, good news can always overcome bad news. That’s definitely something to be thankful for!
The Bible tells us in 1 Chronicles 16:34 that God is good, and his love endures forever.
God's goodness is not dependent on our circumstances. During the ups and downs we go through in this world, God’s character remains unchanged. God is good because he is holy, just, merciful, and kind. God shows us his goodness every single day in all sorts of ways, through his constant presence with us, his provision for us, and much more. This verse reminds us to give thanks because God is good – not because life is easy, but because God’s nature remains pure and unchanging. God’s goodness is something we can always rely on, like an anchor in a storm. When we go through difficult times, our good God stays close to us, so we can stay grounded in goodness despite the challenges we face.
God’s love endures forever. This is not a temporary or fleeting love; it’s eternal and constant. God is love at his core. No matter what we face in this world, we can count on God’s love being there for us. Sometimes, we may question God’s love when we encounter challenges, wondering why a good God would allow suffering. However, God’s love doesn’t always manifest in the way we expect. God’s love sometimes looks like discipline, sometimes like waiting, and sometimes like provision in ways we don’t immediately recognize. God’s enduring love means that God is always with us, even when we feel alone because we don’t sense his presence at certain times. The same God who has walked with us through joy and peace is the same God who will sustain us through grief and pain. God doesn’t change when our circumstances do.
The reality of God’s goodness should inspire us to be thankful. Practicing gratitude is easy when life is going well, but when we face suffering, it can feel almost unnatural to give thanks. Yet, this is when we need to lean even more into God’s goodness. That’s because gratitude shifts our perspective. It pulls our focus away from the temporary struggles of this world to the eternal goodness of God. When we give thanks during hard times, we aren’t pretending that everything is fine. Instead, we’re declaring that God is still trustworthy, no matter what happens. Giving thanks in hard times builds our faith and allows us to see the wonder of God’s work in our lives, no matter what. It’s often in the refining fires of life that we see God’s goodness at work most clearly. When we go through the fire of a crisis, we can experience God’s goodness in deeper ways that strengthen our faith and draw us closer to God. Sometimes, it’s only when we look back that we see the full picture of God’s work in our lives. What once seemed like a setback may, in fact, have been a setup for something greater. Also, the pain we experience can lead to stronger faith and a greater understanding of our Heavenly Father’s love for us.
As we reflect on God’s goodness, let’s remember that God’s nature doesn’t change based on our circumstances. God’s goodness is constant, and his love is enduring. Our call is to give thanks, not just for what God has done, but for who he is. Even when life feels overwhelming, confusing, or painful, we can trust that our loving God is good!
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you consider how you can always rely on God’s goodness – even in bad circumstances – reflect on these questions:
- What are some specific ways you’ve seen God’s goodness in your life recently?
- Think about a difficult season in your life. How did you experience God’s goodness, even when you were going through hard times?
- How can you practice gratitude, even in the middle of suffering? What are some ways you can shift your focus to God’s constant goodness during difficult circumstances?
- In what ways does understanding that God’s love “endures forever” impact how you view your current circumstances?
- How can you share with others about the goodness of God in both the good and bad seasons of your life?
Further Reading:
Psalm 100:5
Romans 8:28
James 1:17
Psalm 34:8
Lamentations 3:22-23
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/FG Trade
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