Life is Hard....but God is Good

"God is good, all the time." "All the time, God is good." We repeat that so glibly when prompted, but do we really believe it? Do we live as though we believe it?

A few years ago, I started to sing a song with the same title as today's Victory Call. The words of the chorus are:

Life is hard, the world is cold
We're barely young and then we're old
But every falling tear is always understood
Life is hard, but God is good 1

The older I get, the more I realize that life is not really intended to be easy. Sure, there may be times when things go well for awhile, but that isn't the norm, and we need to not get too comfortable or expect that things will stay that way. The Bible is full of assurances that trials, challenges and difficulties are what we should expect in this world.

James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, WHENever you face trials of many kinds," - notice it's WHENever, not IF.

Isaiah 43:2 "WHEN you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and WHEN you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. WHEN you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Again, not IF but WHEN.

Lastly, Jesus Himself told us: "In this world you WILL have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b)

If you're going through a time of peace and things going are well, rejoice, enjoy, and give thanks - but be prepared. The time WILL come when a trial, a challenge, a difficulty, a hardship will come your way. Know the One Who will stand by you; Who will not leave you or forsake you; Who will be your strength, your comfort, your peace; Who has already overcome the world. He is Good!

Ruth Schmidt

1 "Life is Hard, But God is Good" by Pam Thum

PSALM 86
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.