Goodness in Hard Times

Bible Reading: Psalm 52:8-9; 145:9-13

“What’s wrong, bud?” Grandpa asked when he noticed his grandson staring out the window. He sat down next to him on the sofa.

Zach looked over at his grandpa. “I was just thinking about something,” he said quietly.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Grandpa asked him.

“At church today, the pastor told you he was sorry to hear what happened to Grandma. You told him that God is good. But if the car accident left Grandma blind, how was God good?”

“God is always good,” Grandpa said. “Can you think of a way God was good to us through the car accident?”

Zach thought for a minute before he replied. “I guess Grandma could have died. But she still can’t see, and now Mom has to help her with everything. Grandma can’t even eat by herself; Mom has to feed her.” He sighed. “I don’t think God was very good to Grandma.”

Grandpa picked up a Bible and handed it to Zach. “Turn to Psalm 52:8 and read it for me.”

Zach found the verse and read it out loud. “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.” He closed the Bible softly and set it back down on the coffee table. “What does that have to do with Grandma?”

“The verse tells us that God loves us, Zach. He loves us so much He sent us His Son, Jesus, so we could have eternal life with Him and always have Him with us. And He showed us His love and goodness during the car accident. When Grandma was in the hospital for three weeks, Jesus never left her side. He was also with you, your mom, and me as we prayed for Grandma. He held us close and loved us.” Grandpa put a hand on Zach’s shoulder. “We both wish Grandma had walked away from the accident without any injuries, but God is good even when bad things happen. He is still with us in the hard parts of life and continues to show us His goodness. He never changes, He never quits, and He never lets go of us.”

Zach was quiet for a moment. “I guess God was good to us after all.”

-Kimberly Brokish

How About You?

Have you ever gone through hard things? Maybe you have been bullied at school or someone you love has been badly hurt or has died. How did God show His goodness to you? It can be hard to see God’s goodness in hard times, but it is always there. Jesus loves you and is always with you—through the good and the bad.

Today’s Key Verse:
Psalm 23:6 (NIV) Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Today’s Key Thought:

God’s goodness is constant