Lie #2: God is Good, But He is Not Good to Me (Part 1)

Lie No. 2, much like Lie No. 1, ensnares those who look at their lives and feel they fall short compared to others. They compare themselves to Person A, who appears more beautiful, and Person B, who seems more successful. They may feel like God is favoring others while they remain overlooked. This is a lie from Satan, aimed at those who are covetuous and dissatisfied, measuring their worth by material possessions or social status. As James 1:14 states, they are tempted by their own desires.

When someone starts comparing themselves to others, Satan whispers doubts: “How can Person A be doing better than me? I was saved before them and give tithes more regularly. It seems God must be partial. Yes, God is good, but not to me.”

Satan is a liar (John 8:44), and he will not change. His lies only hold power when we believe them. He spreads this deception because he knows you cannot deny God’s goodness; you’ve witnessed it yourself. So, he distorts the truth, suggesting that while God is good, He simply does not extend that goodness to you. This issue is that we gauge God’s grace based on our circumstances. God’s goodness is not dependent on us; it’s an intrinsic part of His nature. Our situations—whether favorable or unfavorable—do not alter who He is. As Psalm 119:68, Psalm 106:1, and Psalm 135:3 remind us, God is good. His goodness doesn’t mean we won’t face challenges or difficult times in our lives. One may wonder, though, "Why do believers face challenges in their lives?" Let's look at four reason why believers may face challenges.

Reasons Why Believers Face Challenging Times.

1. Christian Trials

Scripture References: 1 Peter 4:12, 1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2-4

Christian trials refer to the difficulties that believers encounter at various stages of their spiritual journey. These trials are designed to strengthen faith and promote maturity, as outlined in Romans 5:3-5 that says, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

• Endurance
  Endurance (Gr: hypomone) signifies steadfastness, constancy, and perseverance. It describes a person who remains unwavering in their faith, even in the face of significant challenges. Through these experiences, we cultivate the ability to stand firm in our beliefs, regardless of our circumstances.

• Endurance produces character…
  Character (Gr: dokime) is often translated as "experience." It comes from the Greek word dokimos , which means "acceptable." Trials refine us, developing proven character that demonstrates our steadfast faith—making us "specimens of tried worth."

• Character produces hope…
  Hope (Gr: elpis) means to anticipate with joy. As we build endurance and character through trials, we can look forward to the glory that lies ahead, finding joy in God despite our circumstances.

• This hope does not lead to disappointment because God’s love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

While Christian trials can be painful, they are essential for growth. Comfort alone does not foster development (1 Peter 1:7, James 1:2-4). We have the assurance that God is with us, and He will not let the fires of trial consume us (Isaiah 43:2, Isaiah 41:10, 1 Peter 5:7). Additionally, we can look forward to the glory that awaits us after this life (Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, James 1:12, 1 Peter 1:7).

How to Respond to Difficulties Due to Christian Trials

1. Rejoice and Be Patient. (Romans 5:3, James 1:4, 1 Peter 1:6-7)

2. Encourage Yourself in the Lord. (1 Peter 5:7-10, 1 Samuel 30:6-8)

3. Find Strength from Other Believers. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:23-25, Galatians 6:2)

2. Discipline

Another source of difficulty for believers can be divine discipline. This is God’s way of chastising us when we disobey or persist in sin, often following His warnings (Hebrews 12:3-11).

Understanding Discipline
The term "discipline" (Gr: paideia) encompasses education, training, correction, and chastisement. It reflects God’s guidance aimed at helping us become who He wants us to be. This process is not meant to punish but to encourage growth and transformation.

While discipline may feel unpleasant, leading us to question God’s goodness, we must honestly recognize that it is a sign of His love. The proper response during these times is to repent for our disobedience and seek God’s guidance on the next steps to take.

The length of our disciplinary experience—whether short or long—depends on how well we yield to the Holy Spirit during these times (Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 13:24). As Revelation 3:19 shows, chastisement reflects God’s love and Proverbs 29:15 indicates that discipline imparts wisdom.

How to Respond to Difficulties Due to Divine Discipline

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to Search Your Heart. Seek to understand the reasons behind your discipline (Psalm 139:23-24, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Revelation 3:15-17).

2. Repent of Your Sin. Acknowledge your shortcomings and turn away from them (James 4:8, 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 7:8-11).

3. Seek God for Guidance. Ask the Lord for direction on the next steps to take, and obey immediately (Romans 8:14, Revelation 3:18-22).

4. Practice Patience. Allow God’s perfect work to unfold in His timing (James 1:3-4, Romans 5:3, 1 Peter 1:7). Sometimes, your challenges may resolve as soon as you obey (Genesis 20:1-18).

3. We Have an Adversary: The Devil (1 Peter 5:8)

Before blaming God for not being good to us, we must remember that we have an adversary. While many believe that God controls everything, we must know that Satan is referred to as the god of this world for a reason (1 John 5:19, 2 Corinthians 4:4). He governs the affairs of this world. Although, he cannot control believers, he can afflict and attack us. And even though, he is a defeated foe, his attacks can still wound believers.

Satan can attack a believer main reasons:

a. Access through Sin

Believers can be vulnerable to the devil’s attacks when they give him access through sin. Engaging in sinful behavior places us on enemy territory, giving Satan legal grounds to strike. Sin is his domain; he is the author of it, and God detests it. Jesus sacrificed His glory and endured a painful death because of sin. When we yield to temptation and sin, we essentially choose the devil’s side.

What is Sin?
Sin is anything that falls outside of God’s will (1 John 3:4). It can range from small acts of disobedience to serious offenses like murder (Ephesians 2:2).

b. Satan's Agenda to Pull Christians Down

One of Satan's primary goals is to undermine believers (1 Peter 5:8). He is unhappy about your faith and will use various strategies to weaken it (2 Corinthians 2:11), such as: deceit and false teaching (2 Corinthians 11:12-14), demonic attacks (Ephesians 6:12), sickness and affliction, attacks on loved ones to cause distress for believers, death of loved ones, which can be a source of pain, etc.

Satan’s attacks are real, and believers must remain vigilant to resist his schemes. It’s not that God is not good; He is, but we do have an adversary.

How to Respond to Difficulties from Satanic Attacks

1. Remember Satan is a defeated foe (Hebrews 2:14-15, 1 John 3:8, John 10:10, Colossians 2:15, Colossians 1:13).

2. Resist the devil

   • Resist him with authority (Luke 10:19, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9).

   • Put on the armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

   • Flee from temptation to prevent giving him access (Matthew 26:41, 1 Corinthians 10:11).

   • Practice forgiveness to avoid his traps (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).

3. Be prayerful. Ask God to fight for you and defend you in unseen battles (2 Chronicles 32:8, Psalm 20:7).

4. Stand firm in Your faith (1 Peter 5:8-9). Some wounds from satanic attacks may feel severe, but remember, Satan can only attack your body. There is glory ahead (2 Timothy 4:6-8, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

4. Self-Inflicted Challenges (Through Ignorance or Laziness)

Scripture References: Hosea 4:6a, Proverbs 22:3, Proverbs 8:5, Proverbs 28:26; Proverbs 19:15, Proverbs 20:4, 13, Proverbs 14:23, John 5:17, Proverbs 21:25, 1 Timothy 5:8, Proverbs 10:4, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Proverbs 13:4.

Some individuals face challenges not because they are being targeted by others or by the devil, but due to their own laziness or ignorance. The Bible contains numerous verses that condemn both ignorance and laziness, indicating that God is opposed to both. The consequences of these behaviors apply to everyone, regardless of their faith. A lazy person will likely experience poverty, and an ignorant person will suffer the consequences of their ignorance.

When faced with challenges, it's crucial to ask yourself, “What am I neglecting to do?”

Many problems can be resolved simply by addressing ignorance. James 1:5 encourages us to ask God for wisdom, but wisdom is rooted in knowledge. Without knowledge, there can be no wisdom to apply. It is essential for every believer to stay informed—not about everything, but at least about what is necessary. For example, individuals who live in financial ignorance often wonder why others with similar incomes live more comfortably. God is good and generous, but we can sometimes undermine our own well-being.

A range of issues can be addressed through diligence and hard work. Many remain in poverty, dependent on others, due to laziness and an unwillingness to step outside their comfort zones. God firmly opposes laziness; even from the beginning, He gave Adam a job (Genesis 2:8, 15). God Himself is a hardworker. Jesus affirmed this in John 5:17, stating, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

If ignorance or laziness is the root of your challenges, there's only so much God can do to help, and your circumstances will not change without your effort.

How to Respond to Challenges Caused by Ignorance or Laziness

1. Conduct a self-assessment. Ask yourself: Is there more I can do to gain knowledge and move beyond this level? What additional actions can I take to improve my situation?

2. Seek godly counsel. Reach out to knowledgeable individuals for honest advice. Be open about your challenges and ask for guidance on how to proceed (Proverbs 12:15, Revelation 11:14).

3. Pursue knowledge. If ignorance is your issue, actively seek knowledge. If laziness is the problem, take actionable steps to change your habits.

So far, we have established that:

• God is inherently good; it is His nature, and nothing can alter that.

• God's goodness is not contingent upon our circumstances.

• Evil exists in the world because it is in a fallen state and under Satan's influence.

• Believers face challenges for various reasons.

In the second part of this discussion on Lie #2, we will explore an important question: Shouldn’t only good things happen to me because I am a child of a good God who loves me deeply?

Nourish Your Spirit