The Goodness of God in Adversity and Sorrow

The goodness of God is a fundamental aspect of His character, encompassing His benevolence, mercy, compassion, and grace towards His creatures ^[3]. This divine attribute is evident even amidst human adversity and sorrow, as God's goodness is described as enduring, abundant, and universal ^[7].

Scripture frequently attests to God's goodness in times of distress. Psalm 31:7 declares, "I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities" ^[4]. This verse highlights the psalmist's ability to find joy in God's loving-kindness despite personal suffering, recognizing God's intimate awareness of his troubles. Similarly, Psalm 31:9 pleads, "Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well" ^[5]. Here, the psalmist appeals to God's mercy, a facet of His goodness, in a state of profound distress.

The concept of God's loving-kindness (Hebrew: hesed) is often linked to His goodness and is described as great, excellent, and everlasting ^[8]. It is through Christ that this loving-kindness is fully realized, preserving, quickening, and comforting believers ^[8]. John Gill notes that God's loving-kindness to Christ, as Mediator, is a love of complacency and delight, which is "good" as evidenced by God's actions, such as appointing Christ as Savior and Head of the church ^[14].

Even when individuals suffer unjustly, God's goodness is present. First Peter 2:19 states that it "finds favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows while suffering unjustly" ^[2]. This suggests that enduring hardship with a God-conscious perspective is commendable. God is portrayed as a refuge and strength for the afflicted, comforting and delivering them ^[6]. He is with them in their trials, preserving them and providing comfort ^[6].

The goodness of God is not merely a passive attribute but an active force in the lives of believers. It is manifested in His provision for temporal needs, His forgiveness of sins, and His leading to repentance ^[7]. Romans 2:4 indicates that God's goodness leads to repentance, while Romans 11:22 speaks of both the "goodness and severity of God" ^[1]. This passage emphasizes that while God shows severity to those who fall, His goodness is extended to those who continue in it ^[1]. John Gill interprets this as a call to humility and caution, considering both God's grace towards some and His strict justice towards others ^[13].

The Psalms frequently express confidence in God's goodness and mercy even in the face of adversity. Psalm 23:6 proclaims, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me," which John Gill interprets as either the free grace, love, and favor of God, or the temporal good things that flow from His mercy ^[12]. The psalmist in Psalm 71 finds encouragement and strength in God's righteous character amidst suffering, believing in God's ability to transform misery into abundant life ^[9].

God's goodness is also connected to His readiness to forgive sinners, with His grace encouraging fear and hope in Him ^[15]. Jesus Himself emphasized the cardinal virtue of being merciful, showing kindness to those in distress, promising that those who are merciful will receive God's mercy ^[11]. This divine mercy is a direct outflow of God's inherent goodness. Even in affliction, God delivers the poor, supporting them, supplying grace, and granting His presence for comfort ^[10].

Sources

Romans “See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off. -- Romans 11:22”
I Peter “I Peter 2:19 (LEB) — For this finds favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.”
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 “I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities. -- Psalms 31:7”
Psalms “Psalms 31:9 (BSB) — Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
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”
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 ”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 71:19: 71:19-21 God’s righteous character provides encouragement and strength in the midst of suffering. The wounded psalmist confesses faith in God’s ability to transform his misery and weakness into abundant life.”
Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 36:15: He delivereth the poor in his affliction,.... The righteous or godly poor; who are not only poor in worldly things, but poor in spirit; who are humbled, brought low, and made contrite, through the afflicting hand of God: these, though the Lord does sooner or later deliver "out" of their afflictions, yet that is not intended here, but a deliverance "in" them; which is done by supporting them under them, by supplying them with his grace to bear them patiently, by granting them his gracious presence for their comfort in them, by stilling the enemy and the avenger, keeping ”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 5:7: 5:7 Jesus made a cardinal virtue of being merciful, that is, showing kindness to those in distress (see 6:12, 14-15; 9:13; 12:7; 18:23-35; 23:23; 25:31-46). Those who are merciful now will find God’s mercy in the final judgment.”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 23:6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me,.... Either the free grace, love, favour, and mercy of God in Christ, which endures continually, and is always the same from everlasting to everlasting; or the effects of it; and these either temporal good things, which flow from the goodness and mercy of God, and not the merits of men; and which are in great mercy and loving kindness bestowed on his people, and which follow them: they do not anxiously seek after them; but seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, these are added to them, they trusting in the Lord, and”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 11:22: Behold therefore the goodness, and severity of God,.... The consideration of both the grace and kindness of God to some, and his severity or strict justice towards others, is recommended by the apostle as very proper to abate pride, vain glory, and haughtiness of spirit; and to engage to humility, fear, care, and caution; on them which fell, severity: the Jews who stumbled at Christ and his Gospel, and fell by unbelief, God in strict justice and righteous judgment not only destroyed, as afterwards their nation, city, and temple, and scattered them abroad in the wor”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 69:16: Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good,.... His lovingkindness to him, not only as his Son, but as Mediator; and which is a love of complacency and delight, and was from eternity, and will be to eternity: and this is "good", as appears by the effects and evidences of it; such as putting all things into his hands, showing him all that he does, concealing and keeping nothing from him, appointing him to be the Saviour of his people, the Head of the church, and the Judge of the world; and this lovingkindness shown to him is a reason why he might expect to be hea”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 130:4: 130:4-6 The good news comes in God’s readiness to forgive sinners. His grace encourages people to fear him and hope in him.”

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