God is Good All the Time

For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. - 2 Thess. 1:6–8

How does God work? What is He up to these days? What common principles may be derived from biblical history and applied to our own lives?

We may not know the specific answers to these questions, but we do have some general ideas. For example, God always acts in holiness for His greatest glory. Whether or not we understand His actions is a secondary concern, though sometimes our understanding is hindered simply because we cannot see beyond our own selfish purposes.

God also hears the cries of the faithful. He does not ignore them. Neither is He incapable of hearing. He will punish those who persecute His people and He will give rest to those who are suffering for His Name's sake. He may not act on our timetable, but He will act.

Ultimately, we come to the conclusion that God is good all the time, though we may not understand or comprehend how the current experience could fit that equation.

Faith makes all evil good to us, and all good better; unbelief makes all good evil, and all evil worse. Faith laughs at the shaking of the spear; unbelief trembles at the shaking of a leaf, unbelief starves the soul; faith finds food in famine, and a table in the wilderness. In the greatest danger, faith says, "I have a great God." When outward strength is broken, faith rests on the promises. In the midst of sorrow, faith draws the sting out of every trouble, and takes out the bitterness from every affliction. - Richard Cecil