Recognizing God's Goodness in All Circumstances Daily
The goodness of God is a fundamental attribute of His character, encompassing His benevolence, mercy, compassion, and grace towards His creatures [7]. This divine goodness is described in scripture as great, rich, abundant, satisfying, enduring, and universal [6]. Recognizing God's goodness in all circumstances involves a daily practice of praise and thanksgiving, acknowledging His consistent provision and faithfulness [4, 8].
Scripture encourages believers to acknowledge God's goodness throughout the day. Psalm 92:2 states, "to make Your mercy known in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night" [1]. This verse highlights a continuous recognition of God's attributes. Similarly, Psalm 33:2 (Latin Vulgate) declares, "Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore; semper laus ejus in ore meo," which translates to "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be always in my mouth" [2]. John Gill interprets this as a call to ascribe blessing and give honor to God for both temporal mercies, which are renewed daily, and spiritual blessings, which are everlasting [10].
The goodness of God is manifested in various ways. It is seen in His provision for temporal needs, His forgiveness of sins, and His guidance towards repentance [6]. Matthew Henry notes that God "does good" to all, acting as a patron for the oppressed and executing righteousness and judgment [13]. This goodness is not limited to believers but is universal, extending to all creation [6, 7]. The psalmist David, reflecting on God's care, acknowledged that God's thoughts towards him were "thoughts of love, thought of good, and not of evil" [12].
Recognizing God's goodness also involves understanding His "loving-kindness," which is described as great, excellent, marvelous, multitudinous, and everlasting [5]. This loving-kindness is better than life itself and is the source of comfort and preservation for believers [5]. John Gill emphasizes that God's loving-kindness is shown forth in Christ through acts like election, redemption, and adoption [9]. Even in adversity, believers have reason to bless God, as circumstances could always be worse, and God's mercy endures forever [10, 11]. Daniel's testimony, "It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me," exemplifies a personal recognition of God's active goodness in one's life [3].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 92:2 (LITV) — to make Your mercy known in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night;”
- Psalms “Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore ; semper laus ejus in ore meo. -- Psalms 33:2”
- Daniel “It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me. -- Daniel 4:2”
- I Chronicles “I Chronicles 23:30 (KJV) — And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even;”
- 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: Goodness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 25:8; Na 1:7; Mt 19:17. Declared to be Great. -- Ne 9:35; Zec 9:17. Rich. -- Ps 104:24; Ro 2:4. Abundant. -- Ex 34:6; Ps 33:5. Satisfying. -- Ps 65:4; Jer 31:12,14. Enduring. -- Ps 23:6; 52:1. Universal. -- Ps 145:9; Mt 5:45. Manifested To his Church. -- Ps 31:19; La 3:25. In doing good. -- Ps 119:68; 145:9. In supplying temporal wants. -- Ac 14:17. In providing for the poor. -- Ps 68:10. In forgiving sins. -- 2Ch 30:18; Ps 86:5. Leads to repentance. -- Ro 2:4. Recognise, in his dealings. -- Ezr 8:18; Ne 2:18. Pra”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 145:2: Every day will I bless thee,.... For new mercies had every morning; for fresh supplies of grace every day, which all come from the fulness of Christ, to whom all grace is given, and from whence it is received, and in whom all spiritual blessings are, and by whom they are bestowed; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever; as long as he lived in this world, and to all eternity in the world to come. David understood the doctrine of the saints' perseverance, and knew he should not be an apostate and blasphemer of the name of Christ, but a praiser of it as long as ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 92:2: To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning,.... God has shown forth his lovingkindness in Christ, and Christ has shown it in a ministerial way; and saints should show it forth also with their lips, to warm the hearts of one another, and encourage distressed minds; this should be a part, and a considerable one, of their thanksgiving and praise; as it will appear to be, when the objects of it are considered, not angels, but men, and these the worst and vilest; the instances of it in election, redemption, calling, adoption, and eternal life; and the freeness, earlin”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 34:1: I will bless the Lord at all times,.... That is, ascribe blessing, give honour, praise, and glory to him, both as the God of nature and providence, for every temporal mercy; and that every day, and at all times in the day; since these are renewed every morning, and continue all the day long: and as the God of grace, for all spiritual blessings; and that continually, because these last always; they are irreversible, unchangeable, and without repentance; yea, saints have reason to bless God in times of adversity as well as prosperity, since it might have been worse with”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 136:1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good,.... In himself, and to all his creatures; and especially to his chosen people, who therefore should give thanks to him daily in the name of Christ, for all blessings temporal and spiritual, in faith and fervency, and in the sincerity of their souls, with their whole heart; for his mercy endureth for ever; it is the same with his love, which is from everlasting to everlasting; and continues notwithstanding the sins of his people, the hidings of his face from them, and his chastisements of them; the covenant which is found”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 139:17: Here the psalmist makes application of the doctrine of God's omniscience, divers ways. I. He acknowledges, with wonder and thankfulness, the care God had taken of him all his days, Psa 139:17, Psa 139:18. God, who knew him, thought of him, and his thoughts towards him were thoughts of love, thought of good, and not of evil, Jer 29:11. God's omniscience, which might justly have watched over us to do us hurt, has been employed for us, and has watched over us to do us good, Jer 31:28. God's counsels concerning us and our welfare have been, 1. Precious to admiration”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 103:6: Hitherto the psalmist had only looked back upon his own experiences and thence fetched matter for praise; here he looks abroad and takes notice of his favour to others also; for in them we should rejoice and give thanks for them, all the saints being fed at a common table and sharing in the same blessings. I. Truly God is good to all (Psa 103:6): He executes righteousness and judgment, not only for his own people, but for all that are oppressed; for even in common providence he is the patron of wronged innocency, and, one way or other, will plead the cause of tho”