Overcoming Obstacles to Trusting God's Goodness Biblically

Trusting God's goodness is a foundational aspect of biblical faith, yet various obstacles can hinder this trust. The Bible consistently presents God as good, merciful, and faithful, encouraging believers to rely on His character even amidst difficulties ^{[4, 10]}.

One significant obstacle to trusting God's goodness is excessive worry or "overmuch care" about earthly matters. Scripture explicitly forbids such anxiety, noting that God's providential care for creation should alleviate human worry ^[2]. Jesus teaches against anxiety about food and clothing, pointing to God's care for birds and lilies as evidence of His greater care for humanity (Matthew 6:25-30; Luke 12:22, 29) ^[2]. The apostle Paul similarly instructs believers to be "without care" (1 Corinthians 7:32) and to present their requests to God with thanksgiving instead of anxiety (Philippians 4:6) ^[2]. This kind of worry can obstruct the reception of the Gospel, as it diverts focus from spiritual realities to temporal concerns (Matthew 13:22; Luke 8:14) ^[2]. Trust in God, conversely, is presented as a means to freedom from such anxieties (Jeremiah 17:7-8) ^[2].

Another challenge arises when believers struggle to perceive God's goodness in the face of suffering or unanswered prayers. The concept of "waiting upon God" addresses this, encouraging patience and reliance on God's timing and wisdom ^[6]. This waiting is not passive but an active hope in God as the God of providence and salvation, the giver of all blessings, and the fulfiller of His word and promises ^[6]. It involves waiting for mercy, pardon, guidance, protection, and the fulfillment of God's promises (Psalm 123:2; 25:5; 33:20; Habakkuk 2:3) ^[6]. This hope is rooted in God's mercy (Psalm 33:18) and is described as "good," "lively," "sure and steadfast," and "blessed" ^[5].

A lack of faith itself is a primary barrier to experiencing and trusting God's goodness. Hebrews 11:6 states that "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" ^[1]. This passage emphasizes that faith involves not only acknowledging God's existence but also trusting in His benevolent character as a rewarder ^{[1, 7]}. John Gill notes that without faith, even religious duties cannot be performed in an acceptable way, as such actions lack proper principles and ends ^[8]. Access to God, and thus to His goodness, is obtained through faith, by Christ, and through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 11:6) ^[3]. This access follows reconciliation with God and is a privilege of saints, allowing them to approach God with confidence to obtain mercy and grace (Colossians 1:21-22; Hebrews 4:16) ^[3].

The "loving-kindness of God" (Hebrew: hesed) is a key biblical concept that undergirds trust in His goodness. This loving-kindness is described as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, everlasting, and merciful ^[4]. It is considered "better than life" (Psalm 63:3) and is experienced through Christ (Ephesians 2:7) ^[4]. Understanding God's past dealings provides knowledge of His loving-kindness (Psalm 107:43), which preserves, quickens, and comforts believers (Psalm 40:11; 119:88, 76) ^{[4, 9, 11]}. Matthew Henry emphasizes that David's prayer for quickening was "after thy lovingkindness," implying that divine grace, rooted in God's love, is essential for perseverance in obedience ^{[9, 11]}.

Sources

Hebrews “Hebrews 11:6 (BSB) — And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Care, Overmuch — About earthly things, forbidden -- Mt 6:25; Lu 12:22,29; Joh 6:27. God's providential goodness should keep us from -- Mt 6:26,28,30; Lu 22:35. God's promises should keep us from -- Heb 13:5. Trust in God should free us from -- Jer 17:7,8; Da 3:16. Should be cast on God -- Ps 37:5; 55:22; Pr 16:3; 1Pe 5:7. An obstruction to the Gospel -- Mt 13:22; Lu 8:14; 14:18-20. Be without -- 1Co 7:32; Php 4:6. Unbecoming in saints -- 2Ti 2:4. Uselessness of -- Mt 6:27; Lu 12:25,26. Vanity of -- Ps 39:6; Ec 4:8. Warning against -- Lu 21:34. Sent as a punishment to”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hope — In God -- Ps 39:7; 1Pe 1:21. In Christ -- 1Co 15:19; 1Ti 1:1. In God's promises -- Ac 26:6,7; Tit 1:2. In the mercy of God -- Ps 33:18. Is the work of the Holy Spirit -- Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5. Obtained through Grace. -- 2Th 2:16. The word. -- Ps 119:81. Patience and comfort of the Scriptures. -- Ro 15:4. The gospel. -- Col 1:5,23. Faith. -- Ro 5:1,2; Ga 5:5. The result of experience -- Ro 5:4. A better hope brought in by Christ -- Heb 7:19. Described as Good. -- 2Th 2:16. Lively. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure and steadfast. -- Heb 6:19. Gladdening. -- Pr 10:28. Blessed. -- Tit ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 11:6: 11:6 it is impossible to please God without faith: The author alludes to 10:38, which quotes Hab 2:4. • Faith must include believing that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. In life’s difficulties, readers are challenged to trust in God and to anticipate the fulfillment of his promises.”
Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 11:5: But without faith it is impossible to please him,.... Or do things well pleasing in his sight; or any of the duties of religion, in an acceptable way; as prayer, praise, attendance on the word and ordinances, or any good works whatever; because such are without Christ, and without his Spirit; and have neither right principles, nor right ends: for this is not to be understood of the persons of God's elect, as considered in Christ; in whom they are well pleasing to him before faith; being loved by him with an everlasting love; and chosen in Christ, before the foundatio”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:88: Here is, 1. David in care to be found in the way of his duty. His constant desire and design are to keep the testimony of God's mouth, to keep to it as his rule and to keep hold of it as his confidence and portion for ever. This we must keep, whatever we lose. 2. David at prayer for divine grace to assist him therein: "Quicken me after thy lovingkindness (make me alive and make me lively), so shall I keep thy testimonies," implying that otherwise he should not keep them. We cannot proceed, nor persevere, in the good way, unless God quicken us and put life into u”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 71:1: Two things in general David here prays for - that he might not be confounded and that his enemies and persecutors might be confounded. I. He prays that he might never be made ashamed of his dependence upon God nor disappointed in his believing expectations from him. With this petition every true believer may come boldly to the throne of grace; for God will never disappoint the hope that is of his own raising. Now observe here, 1. How David professes his confidence in God, and with what pleasure and grateful variety of expression he repeats his profession of that c”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:84: Quicken me after thy lovingkindness,.... According to it, and with it; let me have some discoveries of it, and of interest in it; and that will quicken me, revive and comfort me, under all the reproaches, ill usage, and persecutions of men. The love of God shed abroad in the heart comforts and supports under all sorts of afflictions; it quickens the graces of the Spirit, and brings them forth into lively exercise, as faith, hope, and love; and to a diligent and fervent discharge of every duty: it constrains to love the Lord, and live to him, to his glory, in obedien”

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