It was the first prayer I learned. We prayed it every night before dinner:
“God is great, God is good; let us thank him for our food. Amen.”
We hear these same three words at church every Sunday, from a multitude of lips “God is good.” When our prayers are answered (our way), God is good. When a friend comes to faith, God is good. When the sermon is powerful, God is good. When we see a beautiful sunrise, we say it again – “God is good.”
This is my conclusion. When we say, “God is good,” what we really mean is, “The outcome was good.”
We need to hear the words of the psalmist: “His goodness is always with us” (Psalm 23:6). When things are going well, sobriety is in check, and things are going your way, God is good. But when none of that is true, God is just as good.
Recovery Step: Never judge the goodness of God by what you can see in the moment.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
