A few years ago, I read a book entitled “What’s So Amazing About Grace?”, by Philip Yancey. That title caught my attention because it called into question my understanding of grace. The lyrics of the hymn, “Amazing Grace”, began to echo through my mind as I considered the far-reaching ramifications of this question, and how I would answer it if someone were to pose that question to me.

Yancey gave illustrations in his book which could possibly change our entire outlook on this matter of grace. We sometimes place grace within the parameters of our limited understanding. To do so could cause us some serious difficulties in our spiritual walk. It could shake us to the very core in our belief in what God being good looks like.

Let me try to frame my thoughts on this question: Is God good because He does good things, or does He do good things because He is good? Then, a second question must be asked as we consider the first: What exactly is “good”? Read these very familiar words from the pen of Paul:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

This verse comes to mind so very often when I hear about individuals who are experiencing difficulties and dilemmas in their lives. And then I am haunted by those questions that we all struggle with from time to time: “If God is really good, why doesn’t He do something?”, or “Is God good, but not powerful enough to do something?”, or “Is God not really good at all?”

Now, let’s go back to the verse quoted above. Paul says that “all things work together for good to those who love God.” Please note carefully that he does not say that all things are good, but that all things work together for good. God – who is good! – is able to take whatever comes our way in life, whether it “appears” to be either good or bad, and work in it and through it in such a way as to bring about good for those involved.

We may go through a time of testing, which comes in so many different ways and levels of intensity, and wonder where God is and why He doesn’t intervene. We may cry out, as did Job, that God can’t be found in the midst of our problems. We may even begin to question God’s goodness, because (in our thinking) we are consumed with the thought that either He doesn’t really care, or He isn’t really good, or He doesn’t really have the power to deal with whatever it is we are going through. Each of these accusations are false, but they haunt us as they fill our minds with questions and confusion.

So, back to the questions posed earlier in this blog: Is God good because of the good things He does, or does He do good things because He is good? The answer is that He does good things because He is good. If we say that He is good because of the good things He does, then does that mean that He is not good when He allows bad things to happen? You see, in our limited, finite, faulty human reasoning, we put good and bad into black and white categories. Something is either good or bad. It cannot be both good and bad at the same time.

However, from God’s perspective (if I dare say that I understand His perspective totally – how absurd!) the lines between good and bad are not so clearly delineated. We see something as either good or bad, while He may view it as nothing but good. All things work together for good – all things, ALL things.

For this very reason Paul says:

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Give thanks in everything, and for all things. Why? Because God is going to work in and through everything that comes our way for our good. Yes, God can do that! So today, let’s try to see things differently. Let’s try to see them as things God can work good in our lives, and in the lives of others.

Blessings!