We hear your heart’s cry, dear one, and we join you in lifting this desire before the throne of grace. Your longing to fix your eyes on God’s goodness rather than your circumstances is a holy one, rooted in the truth that He is unchanging and faithful in every season. The world often measures God’s favor by outward conditions—prosperity, ease, or the absence of suffering—but Scripture calls us to a higher perspective. As the psalmist declares, *"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"* (Psalm 34:8 WEB). His goodness is not contingent on our comfort; it is an eternal reality, woven into the fabric of His character.
Yet we must also rebuke the subtle lie that circumstances are neutral indicators of God’s approval or disapproval. This is a distortion of His grace, for Christ Himself endured the cross—not because He lacked favor, but because He was fulfilling the Father’s perfect will (Hebrews 12:2 WEB). Your trials do not reflect a withdrawal of God’s goodness; rather, they are often the very soil in which His goodness takes deeper root in your life. Consider Joseph, sold into slavery and wrongly imprisoned, who later testified, *"You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good"* (Genesis 50:20 WEB). Even in the valley, God’s goodness is at work, shaping you into the image of His Son.
We also caution against the temptation to thank God *for* every outcome, as though suffering itself is His design. Rather, we thank Him *in* every outcome, trusting that He will redeem even the broken pieces. The apostle Paul, no stranger to hardship, exhorted the Thessalonians to *"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus"* (1 Thessalonians 5:18 WEB). Notice he did not say to give thanks *for* all things, but *in* them—acknowledging that God’s goodness is the steady anchor when the waves rage.
Let us pray with you now:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. We thank You that Your goodness is not a fleeting emotion but an eternal truth, as constant as Your very nature. Lord, we ask that You would open the eyes of our brother/sister to behold Your faithfulness in every season. When the enemy whispers that You have abandoned them, remind them of Your promise: *"I will never leave you nor forsake you"* (Hebrews 13:5 WEB). When circumstances scream for their attention, help them to fix their gaze on You, the One who holds all things together by the word of Your power (Colossians 1:17 WEB).
Father, we rebuke the spirit of doubt that seeks to magnify trials above Your sovereignty. We declare that no weapon formed against Your child will prosper (Isaiah 54:17 WEB), and that every hardship is being used for their good and Your glory (Romans 8:28 WEB). Teach them to number their days, that they may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12 WEB), and to count it all joy when they face trials, knowing that the testing of their faith produces endurance (James 1:2-3 WEB).
Lord, we ask that You would cultivate in them a heart of gratitude that transcends circumstances. May they overflow with thanksgiving, not because life is easy, but because You are good. Let their lips continually offer the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15 WEB), and may their lives be a living testimony to Your faithfulness. When the path is dark, be their Light; when the road is steep, be their Strength; when the burden is heavy, be their Rest.
We also pray for discernment, that they would not mistake Your silence for absence or Your discipline for disapproval. Help them to remember that You chasten those You love (Hebrews 12:6 WEB), and that Your corrections are evidence of Your fatherly care. May they run with endurance the race set before them, looking to Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:1-2 WEB).
Above all, Lord, we ask that You would draw them closer to Yourself. May they know You not just as a concept, but as a Person—the Good Shepherd who leads them beside still waters (Psalm 23:2 WEB), the Father who runs to meet them when they return (Luke 15:20 WEB), the Savior who bore their sins so they could walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4 WEB). Let their trust in You be unshakable, their hope in You unmovable, and their love for You unquenchable.
We ask all these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, the Name above every name, the One through whom we have access to Your throne of grace. Amen.
Dear one, we encourage you to meditate on the truth that God’s goodness is not a reward for your performance, but a gift of His grace. When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, God did not withhold manna because they grumbled; He provided it daily as a testament to His faithfulness (Exodus 16 WEB). In the same way, His goodness is not a response to your perfection, but a reflection of His love.
We also urge you to surround yourself with believers who will remind you of God’s character when your own heart grows faint. The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to *"consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together"* (Hebrews 10:24-25 WEB). In community, you will find strength to hold fast to the truth when the enemy seeks to isolate you.
Finally, remember that gratitude is a weapon. When you choose to thank God in the midst of the storm, you are declaring that He is greater than your circumstances. The psalmist Asaph struggled with this very thing, confessing, *"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled... until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood"* (Psalm 73:2, 17 WEB). In the presence of God, his perspective shifted. May your time in the sanctuary—whether in prayer, worship, or the reading of Scripture—be the place where your vision is renewed.
You are not alone in this journey. We stand with you, and more importantly, the Holy Spirit intercedes for you with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26 WEB). Press on, dear one. The God who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6 WEB). His goodness will follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6 WEB).