When You Can't See How God's Good Right Now

Sometimes all you can do is kneel on God’s promises. Raise your hands to praise Him while you’re praying for another miracle. Another way through.

All you can pray is this:

I come to You, the Waymaker, the Worthy One, the One with an “abundance of . . . faithful love” (Is. 63:7 TPT). Make a way through the impossible. Again. Because You are who You were.

And it’s enough.

If that’s where you are today, I’m saving a spot for you right here on my couch. I get the tears that spill extra easily these days. The honest questions you’ve dared whisper to God. The way you wish you could make it easier. Make it go away.

The other morning, I turned on a prayer set by Upper Room as I was praying about a thing that I wish I could fix for someone else. And this line, “You do all things well,” hit me.

On the hard days, do I believe that He does “ALL things well”? Even the things I can’t understand yet. The ones that may not be redeemed this side of heaven. The ones that require nevertheless praise.

Do I know God’s nature enough to trust that His heart is good?

Some seasons you may answer a definitive yes. But then comes one that unravels what you thought you knew and asks you to choose over and over again.

Is God good when funerals are planned too early?

When surrendered, selfless people walk the hardest roads?

When the most vulnerable are wronged?

When everything changes in a moment and leaves you empty?

When He could have written a different story but still chose this one?

Some questions demand more than polite answers. And here, in the hard and holy space of brutal honesty with yourself and God, you find that faith isn’t a was, but an is. Not a choice you made when everything made sense, but the trust you build as you choose to stand on the never-changing nature of God when nothing makes sense.

Three ways hard things teach me the nature of God

The things spinning and unraveling for you can derail you. Or they can teach you the nature of God. Your questions, your doubt, your anger—they can force distance between you and God. But if you let them, they’ll crack you open in ways that give God access.

If you’re struggling to see how God’s good right now, I pray these lessons I’m learning give you hope and perspective.

1. Easy questions have easy answers, but the hard questions bring me continually back to God.

As I wrestle through the whys, I find coming to God becomes a habit. A first response rather than a last resort. I spend more time on my face not at all caring what time it is—and the presence of God sears and shapes me. Time with El Roi (the God Who Sees), El Shaddai (God Almighty), Adonai (Sovereign Lord) always changes me.

One thing I notice is that I start to treasure the conversation above the answers I’m seeking. That I want to be near Him no matter what. Hear Him even when He answers differently than my human wisdom deems best. Know Him even though He’s vastly bigger than I can comprehend.

2. Hard things point me to worship music, and here in the lyrics I find hope, but also insight into what God’s like.

Worship music increases my awareness of God’s presence. Connects me almost immediately with God. Helps me stay hungry for Him.

My Bibles bear evidence of the songs I play while reading. I fill the white space with lyrics reminding me of promises, God’s character, how He frees me, meets me, remembers me.

Because I also listen to songs on repeat, wisdom from these worship leaders sinks deep. The lyrics change my thoughts, pointing me to God, helping me let go of what creates distance between us.

3. I spend more time in God’s Word when I know I need Him, and His inspired words bear witness of His unchanging nature.

When I’m seeking hope, truth, answers, an open Bible is a steady companion. A familiar friend. I tend to linger longer when I’m desperate. And God meets me there, in His Word that is also Him.

He shows me how He’s kind. Enduring. Incredibly patient. Relentlessly faithful and always planning redemption. Worthy of praise BEFORE, not after, the miracle, breakthrough, restoration, direction.

Shows me that He shares His wisdom, strength, discernment, confidence, mission. Gives only good gifts. Fills me so that I overflow.

Is It Hard to See How God’s Good?

What’s making it hard right now to see that God’s good? What ache is burning in your chest? Where is truth and reality hard to reconcile?

Go ahead and tell Him. Ask your raw-edged questions. Name your struggle.

My prayer for you is that the hard you’re carrying would bring you back, again and over again, to the God who is good, who does “ALL things well.” I pray that as you seek answers, you’d find Him there waiting for you. As you linger, His very presence would change you. And as He heals, fills, comforts, and strengthens you, you’d overflow like a fountain.

Just a friend over here in your corner,

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