The goodness of God has been questioned since the dawn of time. Probably the most familiar question is when someone asks, “If God is good, why do so many bad things happen?”
But the presence of suffering does not invalidate the goodness of God. Christians find comfort and strength knowing no matter what circumstances arise, God is good. And He can bring good out of the most challenging situations.
The goodness of God echoes throughout the Old Testament when God brought all creation into existence and proclaimed that it was all good.
– Skip to the Scriptures about the Goodness of God –
And God consistently displayed His goodness through the guidance and protection of Israel. Even through their disobedience, He waited for them to return to Him and offered them deliverance.
The New Testament reveals God’s goodness through the life and teachings of His Son. Jesus’ ministry was characterized by compassion, healing, and forgiveness. And even after Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, God provided His children with a Helper, the Holy Spirit.
So, even though it’s hard to accept the suffering of humanity, the Bible reassures us that we serve and worship a benevolent God who offers great compassion and hope for us all.
To gain a deeper insight into His divine nature, let’s ponder on these 25 Scriptures about the goodness of God.
Scriptures About The Goodness of God
God’s goodness surrounds us, but we often fail to notice it. However, God is naturally good, and His actions reflect that. The Bible shows us His kindness, mercy, and compassion toward humankind.
God is purely good. There is nothing evil in Him. God cannot do wrong. Everything He does is holy. And His interactions with us are always for our good and His glory.
His goodness is His glory. We may catch glimpses of it, but 1 Corinthians 13:12 tells us that we won’t fully comprehend God’s glory until we meet Him in heaven and see Him face to face.
Exodus 33:19 (ESV)
“And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.’ “
Moses walked before God leading the Israelites out of Egypt, performing numerous miracles, and standing between the people and the Creator. But that must not have been enough for the humble servant of the Lord. He requested to see the full glory of God.
But that’s how it is in a truly intimate relationship–we just can’t get enough of the person we love. However, God could not allow Moses to see more of Him, He did grant Moses’ petition by passing before him and Moses was allowed to see God after He passed by.
God’s glory is His goodness, mercy, and kindness towards us, and that’s how we come to know Him.
James 1:17 (ESV)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
James tells us that God is the source of all good and perfect gifts. If we have anything good, it’s not something we have done for ourselves. It is a gift from God. God’s creation is a gift to us.
Relationships are gifts from God. And all that sustains us is from the Father of lights. Just as the sun provides life-giving elements to the earth, God sustains us all and desires that we all come to Him.
Nehemiah 9:20
“You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst.”
An example of God’s good Spirit leading and guiding is found here as Nehemiah recounts the time when the children of Israel staggered in the desert for 40 years. God miraculously provided for them after their disobedience and repentance.
God provides for us in the same way. Maybe not with manna miraculously falling from heaven, but He meets our physical and spiritual needs. He will never leave us or turn His back on us. This verse is a testament to God’s care, guidance, and faithfulness for His people throughout history.
Micah 6:8 (ESV)
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
This verse from the Old Testament describes three fundamental requirements of what God describes as good: be fair, be kind, and be humble.
It is a guide for living a righteous and compassionate life. It also highlights the fact that we cannot do these things outside of a God-centered life. It’s part of the compassionate attraction of God’s call to repentance.
Psalm 27:13 (ESV)
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!”
Here again, the psalmist tells us that the goodness of the Lord is for all people. On this side of heaven, we do have the opportunity to experience how great a God we serve by seeing His goodness shared with evil men.
Even in this messy world, we still rejoice over the goodness of God. We see His mercy in allowing even the vilest of humanity to participate in His redemptive plan. We see how good He is as we see His good gifts of compassion poured out on the cruelest of people.
However, someday, we will realize the total goodness of God when we are in heaven. God is alive and well, sharing His goodness with the whole world. Showering us with His mercy and grace in hopes that all will come to repentance.
Psalm 107:8
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men!”
God shows His wondrous works to all humankind! Everyone who has ever breathed a breath owes their gratitude to our loving Father. God loves us. And He shows it in so many ways.
When we stop to think about all that we have, we must acknowledge that it is by God’s grace that we experience life, creation, relationships, freedom, and free will–they all come from God.
1 John 5:11 (NIV)
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
The most amazing gift of God’s ultimate goodness is the gift of eternal life. Through the acts of Adam, we were separated from a loving Creator. When Adam sinned, sin was passed onto all of humanity.
However, God, knowing the state we were in, had a plan to redeem us back to Himself. And that plan included His Son’s sacrifice on the cross, giving us an opportunity to obtain eternal life.
There’s nothing we can do to deserve it; it’s a gift from our loving Father.
Romans 2:4 (NIV)
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
God is good, but His goodness should never be misinterpreted as complacency or approval of wrongdoing. In this world, good is called evil, and evil is called good. But God is patient towards us, giving everyone a chance to repent.
The goodness of God leads us to salvation. He is giving us an opportunity to change our ways. We should be drawn to Him when we witness His kindness, but many are not.
Psalm 107:8-9 (ASV)
“Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, And the hungry soul he filleth with good.”
Although God’s goodness is shown towards believers who have put their trust in His Lordship, this psalm tells us that all of humanity is privileged to experience His wonderful works!
This verse conveys a message of praise and gratitude to God for His lovingkindness and His marvelous deeds to humankind. It celebrates God’s ability to satisfy the hungry soul and provide for those in need. God’s compassion and provision are worthy of praise and thanksgiving.
Psalm 31:19-20 (ESV)
“Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!”
God’s goodness is overflowing and inexhaustible. There is an endless reservoir of His kindness and grace waiting to be poured out on those who belong to Him.
This verse is a beautiful reminder that God’s generous nature is not only for the household of faith but is there for all to witness and experience.
Psalm 25:6-7 (ESV)
“Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!”
I think we all have done things in the past that we would like to forget. We surely don’t want them brought back up or have to live through the embarrassment or the consequences of the sins of our youth.
But we are not judged that way. The psalmist’s prayer is like ours…don’t judge me according to past sins, but remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love. Remember me for the sake of Your goodness.
Psalm 84:11 (ESV)
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Again, the sun is used to describe the awesomeness of our God. He is the sun–the provider of all things. And He is a shield–He protects His children and shows favor to us.
And just like a parent provides for His child, God gives us all the things that are good for us; He enjoys doing good things for His children.
Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
In this verse, we see the confidence of the writer. Confidence in knowing who God is and believing that He has good things waiting for us.
Surely or confidently, I believe that goodness and mercy will be my fellow companions throughout my lifetime until I reach my heavenly home. The more we recognize God’s good gifts, the more we see how blessed we truly are.
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
We can think of ourselves as a work of art by God. He made each of us uniquely and has a specific plan for our lives. A plan that will bring glory to Him.
We are created in Christ Jesus for good works. We reflect the Father when we allow our good works to show. Jesus was our example, and we are called to fulfill the Father’s will, which is exactly what Jesus came to do.
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
The fruit of the Spirit, produced in the lives of believers, reflects the virtuous and positive character of God.
As God lives inside us in the form of the Holy Spirit, we allow Him to work in our lives, cultivating and growing all the good characteristics God displays.
Luke 11:13 (ESV)
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
If you are a parent, then you know what a joy it is to give something fun to your child. You’ve seen their face light up and heard that joyful squeal of excitement because they can’t contain their happiness–it’s an amazing experience.
So, if we, as imperfect parents, find joy in giving to our children, then can you imagine the joy God has in giving to His children? He gives incredible gifts, especially in the Holy Spirit! God Himself living in us. Nothing is comparable.
Psalm 50:14-15
“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
What a beautiful promise this psalm has to offer us. God encourages us to call upon Him when we are in trouble or when we are troubled about life. He is our comforter and our refuge. He promises to deliver us.
This verse encourages us to live a life of gratitude towards God, knowing that in times of trouble, we can depend on His deliverance.
Romans 11:22 (ESV)
“Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.”
This verse is part of a larger portion of Scripture where the Apostle Paul addressed the relationship between the Jews and the Gentiles. Paul encouraged his readers to consider both aspects of God’s nature.
As children of God, we should not become arrogant in our position. God loves the humble and rejects the proud.
Nahum 1:7
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”
This verse showcases the goodness of God in times of trouble or crisis. He offers protection to those who have a personal relationship with Him.
When we are facing difficult times, we can turn to God for strength and protection, knowing that He is a compassionate and loving Father.
Psalm 143:10
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”
This prayer for divine guidance and obedience to God’s will reflects a deep desire to be led by the Holy Spirit. Like the psalmist, we must humble ourselves before God as we seek instructions and directions for our lives according to His will.
We know that God is the ultimate authority, and in Him, we find the pathway of moral and righteous living. God’s good Spirit will provide direction, wisdom, and discernment in our faith walk.
Acts 10:38 (ESV)
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
Jesus submitted to God’s will while He was here on earth. During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ was anointed with the Holy Spirit and empowered by God to heal the sick and free people from spiritual bondage. His ministry was a demonstration of God’s presence and goodness in action.
This verse is a testament to the compassionate and miraculous work of Jesus while He was fulfilling the Father’s perfect will. And He followed God’s will all the way to the cross.
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
As Christians, we also have plans to fulfill under the direction of the Holy Spirit. In this verse, we are reminded that God’s will is for us to do good. We are to follow the example Jesus set for us.
We must avoid conforming to the world’s values and transform our way of thinking by the power of His Spirit. This transformation enables us to do the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Lamentations 3:22-26 (ESV)
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
These verses encourage us to place our hope and trust in God, recognizing His steadfast love and mercy. His mercies are new every morning, and they never come to an end.
God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. This familiar saying has become a greeting for Christians who have learned to trust Him.
Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
The psalmist invites all who know the Lord to experience the goodness of God personally. It is an invitation to develop a meaningful and intimate relationship with the Father. And for us who trust in Him, we will find blessings and refuge.
Psalm 119:68 (NIV)
“You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.”
This psalm simply states what this whole article is about. God is good. God does good. And God teaches us to do good.
As we reflect on these 25 Scriptures about the goodness of God, we see how kind, caring, and loving God is. These Bible verses remind us that no matter what we go through, God is always there for us.
His love and mercy never run out, and He’s a constant source of strength and hope. These verses teach us to appreciate the goodness of God in our own lives, and to acknowledge them in the lives of others.
So, as we face different challenges, we can know that God’s goodness is constant and reliable. And He is always there for us, no matter the circumstance.
