One of the reasons I know our faith is true is that we can go through the valley of the shadow of death for years, to the point where it almost becomes our address and we might as well take our mail there, and yet we can still end up singing this song, called “The goodness of God.”
What?! It seems so counterintuitive to live in that valley, and yet this song feels as home to us as the shadow of our minds, and we will often find ourselves literally singing with tears in our eyes, “I believe in the goodness of God.”
And we do believe in it. With all our heart.
That’s because of our Good Shepherd, that’s the Holy Spirit who won’t let us go, that’s certainly not of us, only him – the fact he never gives up on us because we’ve known the words, “he is close like no other” and that when we look at the course of our lives, we can somehow still say, “all my life you have been faithful.”
Some nights, yes, he seems cold and distant, a God of deism and not friendship, and we feel like David and ask how long, oh how long, oh Lord, will you turn your face from us?
But so many other nights, throughout our lives, he has been with us in moments when others simply can’t, aren’t, or won’t — and it’s then the mysterious stranger who’s no stranger, really, at all, comes to us in love, “as a Father, as a friend.”
The Father you’ve needed all your life is the Father you’ve actually had, and the friend you looked for all your life is holding your hand and if you were to see him now, he would be smiling at you, because that’s what we do when we see the ones we love.
So here are a few beautiful lyrics from the song, and the cover I like best.
“The Goodness of God” by Jenn Johnson
‘Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God
Here’s another poignant cover — from a man who now lives forever, living of that which he sings.
In life, we might sometimes struggle to sing this song. But there, in paradise, we will be able to sing nothing else.
If you live in the United States and struggle with depression, anxiety, or any other such disorders…
Find a psychiatrist here.
Find a therapist here.
For readers, internationally, I pray you can find help from a local resource.
For salvation, Christ and Christ alone.
