“Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!” – Psalm 31:19 (KJV)

There is so much about the goodness of God that we can easily overlook when we become too focused on the things we are asking Him to do. Beyond the prayers He has answered, the doors He has opened, and the blessings we can easily point to, there is the goodness of His heart—a goodness that remains constant even when our circumstances change.

Sometimes, when we talk about God’s greatness, our minds immediately go to His power. We remember how He parted the Red Sea, healed the sick, raised the dead, and did what seemed impossible. And truly, His power is beyond our understanding. But there is another side of His greatness that deserves our attention: God is great in His goodness.

Psalm 31:19 begins with an expression of wonder: “Oh how great is thy goodness!” David was not merely acknowledging that God was good; he was overwhelmed by the greatness of that goodness. There is a depth to God’s goodness that we cannot fully measure. The more we know Him, the more we discover that His goodness is not a small part of His nature. It is woven into who He is.

God’s goodness is revealed in what He does, but it is not limited to what He gives. His goodness is seen in His patience with us, His mercy when we fall short, His guidance when we lose our way, and His faithfulness even when we struggle to understand Him.

Think about how many times God has preserved you without you even knowing you were in danger. Think about the moments you received strength to keep going when you felt you had nothing left. Think about the times you made mistakes and yet found room to repent, grow, and return to Him. We may not always recognise these moments as expressions of His goodness, but they remind us that God’s care is often present in ways we do not immediately notice.

In Psalm 34:8, David invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good. This invitation is personal. It is one thing to hear people talk about God’s goodness; it is another thing to know Him for yourself. David does not invite us merely to admire God’s goodness from a distance. He invites us to experience the reality of who God is.

However, we must be careful not to measure God’s goodness only by how comfortable our lives are. There are seasons when prayers seem unanswered, when plans fall apart, and when the things we hoped for do not happen. In such moments, it can become difficult to reconcile our circumstances with the goodness of God.

But does a difficult season mean that God has stopped being good? No. Our circumstances can change, but God’s character does not change with them. We may not understand why certain things happen, and we do not have to pretend that painful experiences are pleasant. Yet, we can bring our questions and disappointments to God while continuing to learn to trust His character.

God’s goodness does not mean that we will never experience pain. It means that pain does not have the final word about who God is. His goodness is not a promise that everything will happen according to our preferences; it is a truth about His nature that we can hold on to, even when life is difficult.

There is also something important to notice in Psalm 31:19: David speaks of God’s goodness in connection with those who fear Him and trust in Him. Trust does not mean that we understand every decision God makes. It means that we continue to place our confidence in Him because we know His character is trustworthy.

Beloved, do not allow a season of waiting to erase your memory of God’s faithfulness. Do not become so focused on what is missing that you lose sight of the ways His goodness has already sustained you. And when you cannot explain what God is doing, remember that you can still seek to know Him more deeply.

The greatness of God’s goodness is not measured only by the size of your testimony. It is also revealed in the unchanging character of the One who walks with you through every season.

God is not only great in power; He is great in goodness. And His goodness is worthy of our trust, our gratitude, and our praise.

Reflection

Have I been measuring God’s goodness only by the things He gives me, or am I learning to recognise and trust His goodness because of who He is?

Key Point

God’s goodness is an expression of His unchanging nature. Even when our circumstances are difficult or His ways are beyond our understanding, He remains worthy of our trust and praise.

Confession

The Lord is good, and His goodness is great.

I will not measure God’s character by my present circumstances.

My life will be a testimony of gratitude for the goodness of God.

Short Prayer

Father, open my eyes to see the greatness of Your goodness. Forgive me for the times I have focused so much on what I am waiting for that I have overlooked the ways You have sustained me. Teach me to know You beyond Your blessings and to trust Your character in every season. Help me remain grateful without pretending that difficult moments do not hurt. May my heart continually find reasons to honour You, and may my life reflect the goodness I have received from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Related Scriptures

Psalm 23:6; Psalm 31:19; Psalm 34:8; Psalm 100:5; Psalm 107:1; Nahum 1:7; Romans 8:28; James 1:17.