by Shannon Caughey

When athletes experience an impactful relationship with a coach that extends long beyond their playing career, it is often because the coach does more than help them get better at their sport. They trust their coach because he or she relates to them with generosity and kindness. These athletes will express something like this: “Coach is so good to me!” 

Multiple times in the Bible people articulate this same sentiment about the Lord: “God is so good to me!” King David says in Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!” When the Israelites worshiped the Lord, they frequently proclaimed, “For he is good; his faithful love endures forever” (e.g., 2 Chronicles 5:13). James 1:17 declares, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

In this series of devotions we’re looking at attributes of the Lord that give us abundant reasons for trusting him—and for continuing to deepen our trust in him. We’ve seen that God is trustworthy because of his love, power, sovereignty, and holiness. We also trust God because he is good. In one sense, this is an extension of his holiness. The Lord’s goodness means he is morally perfect and all he does is worthy of approval. But God’s goodness is about even more. It refers to his incredible generosity and kindness toward us.

Knowing this is true of God gives us great confidence in him in every situation. Circumstances as a coach or in other areas may be challenging. Perhaps we don’t understand how exactly the Lord is working. Even so, we know that all he does is good and is for our ultimate good. This is the assurance we’re given in Romans 8 when we walk through hard times. Paul says in v. 18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” A few verses later, he gives this wonderful promise (v. 28): “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” God is trustworthy because he is good and always working for our ultimate good.

In addition, the Lord delights in doing good for those whose faith is in him. In Matthew 7:11, Jesus brings this point home: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.” Far from being a tight-fisted God who only begrudgingly responds to our needs, the repeated message of Scripture is that our Heavenly Father is overwhelmingly generous and kind. His most astounding gift is giving his Son Jesus for us, to rescue us from our sin and reconcile us to himself. Returning to Romans 8, here’s another assurance about our Father’s generosity (v. 32): “He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?” We can be sure of God’s good will toward us.

Why trust God? Because he is loving, he is all-powerful, he is sovereign, he is holy, and he is good. Put your confidence in him because the Lord is good and his faithful love endures forever.

For reflection: Take some time to praise God for his goodness. Renew your trust in him because he always acts for your good and he delights in being generous and kind to you.