All of us who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ also believe and are convinced that God is good. But even if we have that firm conviction, when we experience something painful, like the loss of health or a loved one, does doubt creep in whether God is good to us in that moment?
In the story in Daniel, chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar makes a golden statue, commanding everyone to worship it and pray to it. When he learns that three young men from Judea—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—do not worship his gods nor pray to the statue, he summons them and gives them an ultimatum—either kneel down, or he will throw them into the fiery furnace. They respond in the following way: "We have a God whom we serve. He has the power to save us from the blazing fiery furnace, and from your authority, O king, He will deliver us. Even if He does not, know, O king, that we will neither serve your gods nor pray to the golden statue you have erected" (Daniel, chapter 3, verses 17–18*).
Here, the key words are: "Even if He does not": Even if God does not deliver us, even if He does not return what is lost, even if He takes away something else dear to us, He is still a good God who acts according to His perfect will. Sometimes this may be painful for us, but He always provides the necessary grace in the painful moment.
In the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, God delivers them from the fire. But even if He had not—an option for which they were prepared—He would still be good. We may not always see how the Lord turns evil into good in the lives of those who love Him, but if we know Him, we will know that He deserves our trust.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah, chapter 55, verses 8–9*).
We are people with limited vision and knowledge. But one thing we can know—God is good! Always.
Biblical quotes are from Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013