When You’re Not Sure God Is Good

Like a light left on for a beloved child, the Father’s love waits with unwavering welcome.

Devotional Source: His Victorious Indwelling
Photo Credit: Unsplash

Many believers live in quiet tension with God because they don't fully believe He is a good Father. Somewhere deep in their experience, He is seen more as a demanding judge than a gentle parent. They fear failing Him. They fear disappointing Him. And as a result, they live in anxiety rather than assurance.

The root of this unrest is often a misunderstanding of God's heart. Today’s devotional compiled by Nick Harrison reminds us that our earthly models of fatherhood may be flawed or even painful. But God is not like them. He is not cold, cruel, passive, or abusive. He is infinitely better than even the best human father. The ache in our souls to be loved, protected, and known is fully met in Him. He is not waiting for us to prove ourselves but inviting us to rest in His love.

Hannah Whitall Smith calls this out plainly. If God is not a good Father, then He is no Father at all. But because He is good, and because He is our Father, the unrest of our hearts can be replaced by the confidence of sonship. D. Tryon continues this theme by pointing to the Father’s love even when everything feels barren. When grace feels absent, when temptation presses in, when our emotions run dry, we can still rest in this eternal truth: the Father is faithful and present.

This is not a sentimental claim. It is the reality of our life in Christ. We are not trusting an idea. We are indwelt by the very Spirit of the Son who cries, “Abba, Father.” This relationship is not earned or maintained by performance. It is anchored in His finished work and sealed by His Spirit. And in that, we rest.

Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture

You are not an orphan. I have not left you alone. I have placed My Spirit within you, and He calls out from your spirit to Mine. I am your Father. I am not like those who failed you. I am not distant or harsh. I am tender and near. I do not withhold good from you. I give freely of Myself.

When you doubt My goodness, come close. Let Me renew your mind and soften your heart. I have given you the Spirit of adoption, not a spirit of fear. You are no longer a slave. You are My child, and I am pleased to call you Mine. Even when circumstances scream otherwise, even when prayers seem unanswered, I remain unchanged. My love does not rise and fall with your mood or merit. It is steadfast.

You are secure in Me. I will never ask you to earn what I have already given. Every gift I give, including the Spirit, flows from My love. Trust Me not only in joy but also in sorrow. I am working all things together for good. Even in silence, I am present. Even in pain, I am holding you.

Walk with Me today. Rest in My arms, not because you feel them, but because they are there. I am your Father, and I delight to give good gifts to My children.

Scripture References: Luke 11:11–13, Romans 8:15–16, Galatians 4:6–7, John 14:18, James 1:17, Matthew 7:9–11, Psalm 103:13, Lamentations 3:22–24, Romans 8:28, John 1:12

Real-Life Analogy

Think of a porch light left on all night by a parent waiting for their child to come home. Even if the child is late, even if they messed up or feel too ashamed to return, the light stays on. It is not a trap. It is a welcome. The parent is not pacing with a lecture, but watching with love.

That porch light is like the unwavering love of your Father in heaven. It shines not because you are flawless, but because He is faithful. Today, instead of questioning whether you deserve His goodness, say, “Father, I trust You. I yield my thoughts and feelings to the truth of who You are. I rest in the light You keep on for me.”

Prayer of Confidence

Father, thank You that You are not like anyone I have ever known. You are not distant or demanding. You are gentle and near. I rejoice that You have given me Your Spirit, not as a visitor but as a witness that I belong to You. Even when I do not understand my circumstances, I can trust in Your character. You are good, and You do not change. Today, I rest not in my ability to believe, but in the unshakable reality that I am Yours and You are my Father.