Is
God Really Good?
By Karen D’Amore
“And we know that
God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are
called according to His
purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (NASB)
Waiting
for the biopsy results, I prayerfully prepared for a conceivable re-occurring
cancer diagnosis. With a prayer posse of Facebook friends anticipating the
results, I eagerly shared the biopsy news. As my Facebook status boldly
proclaimed BENIGN, many responded with a consistent sentiment: “Praise God…God
is good!” My joy-filled response, “yes, He is!” drew me to consider the
alternative. What if…the results hadn’t been favorable and my post had
read…malignant? What would the response have been? Would I still have been able to praise God
and see Him as good through another battle with cancer?
This
thought-provoking “what if?” drew me to candidly search my heart. If we call
God good when things go right, does it mean He’s not good when things go wrong?
Flipping through the pages of my Faith-book, my personal penned words drew me
to re-live a nearly eight-year cancer journey. I recalled the obstacles, pain,
and fears…but more importantly… God’s faithfulness as He’d carried me through
every step of that journey. Deep in the archives of my heart, I saw faces of
lives saved through my cancer story. More recent faces flashed through my
mind…cancer warriors…the many ministry opportunities stemming from my cancer
journey. It was cancer that drew me deeper into God’s arms, where I experienced
His faithfulness like never before. Through cancer, my fears were transformed
into faith. Cancer cultivated my personal compassion. Yes…God had redeemed my
cancer journey for His “good” purpose.
Drawing
wisdom from my relationship with God, coupled with insight from His Word, I
acknowledge that God’s interpretation of “good” is different from mine. As
Christ-followers, we must recognize that God’s “good” isn’t necessarily
synonymous with our comfort. When we measure “good” by things which please our
senses, we’ll struggle in the understanding of God’s good. God desires what’s
best for us, but not necessarily what’s easy for us. In light of Romans 8:28,
He doesn’t say that all things are “good,” but rather that He makes ALL things
work for good.
Our
ultimate “good” is conformity to the image of Christ. And when we are in God’s
will - - called according to His purpose - - everything God allows into
our lives is used by Him to make us more Christ-like. Cancer...just one of
God’s refining chisels, used to conform me into Christ-likeness. A process
enabling me to answer that “what if__________?” with…“YES”…God is really good!
GOING DEEPER:
1. What if________? Fill in the blank. Can you trust in God’s goodness in the midst
of your “what if”?
FURTHER READING:
Married
to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at
Craig Berns Salon. She’s on the Oakwood
Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team and a volunteer at the Wildlife
In Need Center.
