Anticipating the Goodness of God
As I look ahead to 2026, I want to position myself with ANTICIPATION. Would you like to join me? How and what can we anticipate a whole year when we don’t even know what tomorrow holds? Proverbs 27:1 reminds us, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” (ESV)
Some of you may be anticipating a new job, a new home, a wedding, or perhaps a new addition to your family. Some of you are anticipating more challenging transitions this year. Even with our best guesses of what our year may hold, we still don’t know all the details of how they will unfold. That can be unnerving.
So, despite all that we don’t know about our year, we can lean heavily on what we do know – THE GOODNESS OF GOD.
The Goodness of God is something we can anticipate. His Goodness exists no matter what our year holds.
Psalm 119:68 states, “ You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.”
So, what is the Goodness of God? What does it mean that God is Good? The word “good” is so basic in our language. It doesn’t seem to hold as much standing or value as other word choices, such as great, extravagant, wonderful, and awesome. In our language, a word this common doesn’t seem to be adequate to describe the incredible nature and character of the Creator of the Universe and the Rescuer of our Souls.
However…
God’s goodness is:
His very nature that we benefit from. The literal “benefits” of God that we get to expect as His children. It is the overflow of God’s character that falls on us… simply because we are His.
His exceptional qualities that benefit us because we belong to Him. In fact, people who don’t yield to Him still enjoy levels of His goodness, whether they acknowledge His hand or not. - Matt. 5:45 “ For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
God's goodness means many things- not just one.
Some examples of the overflow of God’s Goodness are;
His Presence, His Faithfulness, His Provisions, His Protection, His Consistency, His Salvation, His Forgiveness, His Grace, His Love, His relational availability to us, His Creation, His miraculous nature. His redemptive nature.
In the Willamette Valley, it might be easy to assume that the sun doesn't always shine because we don’t see it most of the year. But we know the truth- the sun always shines and provides warmth and light, whether we see and feel it…or not.
Though the state of our souls can feel conditional…
God’s goodness is not conditional. It doesn’t change. He can’t not be good.
INFACT, HIS GOODNESS EXISTS OUTSIDE OF OUR BELIEF IN IT.
BUT… our belief in God’s goodness is surely a benefit to our soul, to our mental state, and to our resilience and capacity.
REFLECTION OF GOD’S GOODNESS MAKES WAY FOR ANTICIPATION.
In Psalms 103 - David REFLECTS on the goodness of God- praising God for His goodness- His benefits. Take note of which ones he mentions-
“Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.” (Psalm 103 NIV)
REFLECTION SETS US UP FOR ANTICIPATION. MY DESIRE TO ANTICIPATE HAS COME FROM LEARNING THAT I CAN EXPECT GOD’S GOODNESS- NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
The last 10 years alone have contributed greatly to my learning to EXPECT the Goodness of God.
For me, 2026 is the bookend of the decade that marks an event that made it hard to imagine ever returning to joy when I was in the middle of it.
2016 brought the dreaded diagnosis for my mama. Months of trusting and believing for healing. Feeling so divided and guilty as I tried to care for the needs of my own kids and household, and also spend as much time as possible with her - just in case. Then, nine months later, the unexpected phone call- that sunny September day that beckoned me to come quickly. To stand next to the bedside, not of my mom, but of my 30-year-old sister, who suddenly collapsed, as a team did all they could… but it wasn’t enough. The quake of grief and destruction that threatened to swallow us all whole was quiet, but DEAFENING. And then- 11 months later, my mom won her battle with cancer, but for her, that meant going home to be with Jesus. In 2023, I welcomed my first grandchild to the world. What I wasn't anticipating was a birth injury that would cause him much pain and suffering. It was in this place of watching this little person suffer and endure so much that I had to come face to face with the anger I harbored and the questioning of God’s goodness.
Intertwined with these moments of grief, like many of you, in the last decade, I have experienced hormone changes, confusion, and heartbreak. I have experienced the squeezing and uncertainty within my marriage, finances, raising teenagers, and in my faith. I have experienced multiple transitions- both joyful and painful, uncertain and hopeful.
BUT ALSO…
In the last 10 years, I have experienced countless moments of joy and expressions of God’s goodness that seemed so obvious as they happened. Including, but not limited to, 3,667 opportunities to wake up to a new day. That means 3,667 sunrises and sunsets, whether I witness them all or not. I have celebrated about 100 birthdays in the last 10 years, just including those of my closest family members. We have enjoyed 3 warm family vacations, a dream vacation to Italy with just my husband, and 10 more wedding anniversaries have gone by, which means I have had the privilege of holding Jesse’s hand for almost 30 years. Together, just in the last 10 years, we have experienced the gift of raising children through their teen years and watching them transition into adulthood. We have hosted 3 of their weddings ( 3 years in a row), and I have become a grandma to 4 granddarlings- 3 of whom I witnessed enter the world.
Besides those incredible experiences, I’ve had countless opportunities to love and be loved by my family. Endless hugs, snuggles, goofiness, laughter, and now again, the sound of little feet running through my house. I have savored countless days of feeling the sunshine on my face, waking up to birds singing, hearing the laughter of my children, and witnessing them enjoy one another's company and circle each other in prayer. I have delighted in homegrown flowers, surprise visits and coffee with my dad, lunch dates with siblings and friends, making new friends- in my own daughters- as they have transitioned into women, the best smells of summer, and the awe of standing in front of the ocean.
As I glance back at the last decade, most of the moments I’ve shared with you, the goodness of God was SO obvious. Many were small moments that BLARED His goodness. Even still, I can’t miss the waving goodbye to some of the most painful and DEAFENING experiences that, in the moment, muffled the sound of His Goodness. All of these moments that are now in my past, but that I carry with me forever. All wrapped up in God’s goodness as I process and digest each of them.
Here is what I knew, but had to re-know… You know? =)
GOD’S GOODNESS ISN’T MEASURED BY THE QUALITY OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT GOD’S GOODNESS ENTERS INTO OUR CIRCUMSTANCES… NO MATTER THE QUALITY.
As I stand here and look back on all that has happened since 2016, I have come to see an unmistakable PATTERN of GOD’S GOODNESS WOVEN throughout each and every single moment
Some of the ways I experienced His Goodness were through His tangible presence and comfort in grief. I am blown away by how close He comes in our heartbreak. I don’t know how I would’ve survived without His closeness.
(“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18) ESV
Also, the endless expressions I experienced of His faithfulness, kindness, His healing in my heart and in my family, His abundant provisions, His covering and protection, the safety I came to know in new ways in His presence, His relentless love and pursuit of my heart, the beauty of His creation, His grace, forgiveness, salvation and His healing and restoration of relationships within our family. This is such a tiny list of all of the ways that the LORD has revealed His kindness and goodness to me- in ALL of my moments.
Reflecting over this past decade has set me up to ANTICIPATE God’s Goodness this coming year. Reflecting on just our last year can do the same. There is something powerful about remembering, as David teaches us in the Psalms. He was a man who endured many hardships, but He was always taking time to reflect on and declare God’s Goodness.
REFLECTION MAKES WAY FOR ANTICIPATION
In all that we don’t know about our upcoming year, together as God’s children, let’s lean heavily on what we do know…
GOD’S GOODNESS AWAITS US.
Would you like to join me in anticipating it? Here is a free calendar for you to print and keep track as you experience God’s goodness expressed in each month of the year…..no matter the circumstances.
https://www.amandaraewise.com/s/Anticipating-Gods-Goodness-2026.pdf
Grace and Peace,
Amanda
Application:
Looking back on your last year, how do you see God’s goodness expressed as you remember your
1. Most difficult moments
2, Favorite moments
3. Based on how you experienced His Goodness last year and over your life, do you anticipate His Goodness in 2026?
*I acknowledge there are times when it can be really difficult to identify the Goodness of God, especially when you are right in the middle of a storm and can’t see very well. If that is you, I invite you to ask the LORD to open your eyes to see His Goodness and to show you where He is. It can also be extra hard if we are isolated and not gathering with others who love Him because He often reflects His goodness in our most difficult seasons through community. If that is you, I encourage you to find a local Bible-believing church. You won’t find perfection, but hopefully you will find people who love Jesus and can come alongside you. I am praying for you as I write this. That your soul will be strengthened and your eyes open to see the Goodness of God in your life.
“GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD, HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.” PSALM 136:1
“THE LORD IS GOOD, A STRONGHOLD IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE; AND HE KNOWS THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM.” Nahum 1:7
“I BELIEVE THAT I SHALL LOOK UPON THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING!” Psalm 27:13
“OH TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD! BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO TAKES REFUGE IN HIM.” Psalm 34:8
“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.” Psalm 31:19
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34:8
