Fruit of the Spirit: GOODNESS

“All my life You have been faithful, all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.”

It is hard to even describe the goodness that the Lord has given in my life recently. I got married three weeks ago, my husband and I moved into our new apartment, we went on our honeymoon, and I began my new job as a summer school teacher. These are all things that I have prayed for, some for my whole life, and some in more recent seasons. When I think about all of these blessings, my heart overflows with gratitude, and my mind keeps returning to that line from Goodness of God by Bethel Music.

I understand that in seasons like this, it is easy to recognize God’s goodness. But what happens when our prayers seem unanswered, our plans fall apart, or life looks nothing like we hoped or prayed? Is God still good then?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” — Galatians 5:22-23

In order to understand what goodness looks like in every season of life, we first need to understand what goodness means.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, goodness is “the quality or state of being good.” While that definition is true, Scripture points us to something even deeper. Goodness is not simply something God does, but it is part of who He is, and how He has designed us to be. His goodness is rooted in His unchanging character, not in our constantly changing circumstances.

Can something still be good when it doesn’t feel good? Can God’s goodness remain true even when our circumstances suggest otherwise?

The truth is, the goodness of God began in Genesis 1, when the earth was created.

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.” — Genesis 1:3-4

Not only did the Lord create light, but He paused to see that it was good before moving on to the next part of creation. This pattern continues throughout Genesis 1. Actually, the word “good” appears seven times in reference to His creation, ending with verse 31:

“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.”

It was good. After the sixth day, only after everything was good, He rested.

From the very beginning, the Lord established goodness, not just in creation, but shown as a reflection of His character. The earth He created for us is good because it came from a good Creator.

As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect that goodness. We are to demonstrate it not only through what we believe, but through the way we speak, serve, love, and care for those around us. Our very lives should point others toward the goodness of God.

However, the question remains: how do we anchor ourselves in this goodness when the “very good” of creation feels far from our current reality? It is in the tension of unmet expectations and difficult seasons that our understanding of goodness must shift from our circumstances to God’s unchanging character.

A story from Scripture that teaches us this truth is the life of Joseph.

Joseph’s life is a powerful example of God’s goodness in the midst of suffering. He was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and wrongfully imprisoned. Yet through every hardship, God was working out his situation for good . Eventually, Joseph rose to a position of authority in Egypt and was used to save countless lives during a famine. 

Looking back on all of the pain he endured, Joseph told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

Joseph understood that even in the midst of suffering, God was working for a greater purpose. His story reminds us that God’s goodness can be intertwined within our darkest moments.

It is hard to imagine a life as trying and painful as Joseph’s and still be able to recognize God’s goodness. Yet each and every one of us has experienced difficult seasons. Whether it is heartbreak, the loss of a loved one, an unexpected job change, a difficult move, or any other painful circumstance, we all know what it feels like to suffer. And in those moments, just as much as in the joyful ones, God's goodness is revealed.

So, what is our response to this goodness? How should we live in a way that reflects the goodness we have first received?

One of the clearest examples Jesus gives is the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.

Jesus tells the story of a man who was robbed, beaten, and left on the side of the road between Jerusalem and Jericho. Three people passed him by. First, a priest, who saw the man but crossed to the other side and continued walking. Next, a Levite, who responded the same way. Finally, a Samaritan came upon the injured man. Rather than passing by, he stopped, bandaged his wounds, poured oil and wine on them, placed the man on his own donkey, and brought him somewhere he could receive care.

After telling this parable, Jesus asks who proved to be the true neighbor. The answer is obvious. It was not those who appeared and assumed to be religious, but the one who chose to stop and show compassion. God’s love, grace, and goodness were displayed through the Samaritan’s actions.

As followers of Christ, we are called not only to recognize God’s goodness but to reflect it. Like the Good Samaritan, we have the opportunity every day to become the hands and feet of Jesus through showing compassion, extending grace, and loving others even when it is inconvenient or unexpected, like in the parable.

Goodness is not always the absence of struggle; it is the presence of God through it. Whether life goes exactly as we prayed for or not, His goodness remains because His character never changes. His goodness remains the steadfast foundation that began in Genesis and continues through every trial we face today. 

Dear Lord, I pray that my life would point others to His goodness, not because my circumstances are always good, but because He always is. with every breath that I am able, I will sing, of the goodness of God