Weekly Devotion: The Unwavering Goodness of God

By: Amber Palmer

How do we persevere with hope when our circumstances feel anything but good?

David’s life was often marked by distress—surrounded by enemies, pursued by armies, betrayed by false witnesses, and burdened by his own struggle with sin. Psalm 27 captures the tension of his heart as he wrestles with these unfair and overwhelming circumstances while holding tight to his faith. David was no stranger to dark valleys or seasons in the wilderness.

Yet, even in the midst of hopeless situations, he chose to position himself in the space between God’s goodness and life’s heartache—anchored by trust, even as he waited for deliverance.

You might be wondering, how can goodness be found in hopeless circumstances?

“Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness

    while I am here in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13

In Psalm 27:13 David writes a confident YET  into his troubling story. Despite all that is happening, he is faithful and he will see God’s goodness in it all despite what he is facing.

Even when life looks bleak and weary, we can depend on God to bring about goodness in our life.

The Hebrew word for “good”—tov—encompasses more than just pleasant things; it speaks of beauty, gladness, and well-being. But how do we experience that kind of goodness when our earthly eyes are blurred by tears?

Though life on this earth is filled with trials, loss, and pain, God abundantly cares for us. He wraps us in His goodness—not only in the life to come, where there will be no more sorrow or pain (Revelation 21:4) but also right here, in this very moment. His goodness is not only a future promise; it's a present reality.

God didn’t remove the threats or troubles from David’s life. Instead, He reminded David’s heart that He was his fortress and sanctuary in the midst of it all. God Himself was all the goodness David needed. 

Maybe like David you find yourself facing hardships and pain that are out of your control. 

Or maybe your grief is so deep and wide, you’re struggling to believe there is goodness or maybe even believing that God is good.

We pray that David’s story—his wrestling and his return to the hope of God’s goodness—reminds you that while we will face pain and suffering as we wait for Jesus’ return, our God continues to weave His goodness through it all.

His creation offers beauty even in hard moments, like friends who visit the hospital to pray for your sick child. His goodness shows up in simple acts of love, like a warm meal from a neighbor during a season of grief. Maybe it’s the glory of the warm sun on your face to bring you a bit of energy after a long sleepless night. 

God is nothing but good, and we can fully trust in that!

May this story bring you peace as you rest in the unwavering goodness of God, even in the midst of suffering.

Heavenly Father, When life feels heavy and my eyes are filled with tears, help me to see Your goodness—not just in the distant promise of heaven, but in the here and now. Remind my heart, like You reminded David, that You are my fortress, my hiding place, my unshakable refuge. When sorrow lingers and hope feels dim, wrap me in Your beauty, fill me with Your peace, and open my eyes to the small, sacred ways You care for me each day. Thank You for being good, always good, no matter what surrounds me. Help me to trust in that truth and rest in Your presence. Help me to be confident in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Dig Deeper into How to Navigate What is Ahead with Real Hope

Reflection Questions:

1.  In what ways does God show His goodness to David? (From any of David’s story)

2.  Do you trust God to also surround you and your family with His goodness?

Put Your Faith Into Action:

David is confident in experiencing God’s goodness despite his circumstances because he relied on how God showed up in his life and what His Word says. Psalm 27:13 is all about believing you'll see God's goodness—even in the here and now.

One powerful way to nurture that belief is to actively look for and record God’s goodness each day, even in small ways.

Each day, write down one way you saw God’s goodness—in a conversation, a provision, a moment of peace, a verse, a sunrise, a kind word, or even strength to make it through the day.

When doubt creeps in, re-read your entries as a reminder that God has shown up before and will again.

Tie-in repeating Psalm 27:13 throughout your day:

“I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I choose to look for it today.”

ex: A hummingbird came near us as we headed to our car after the doctor’s appointment.

Further Reading:

Psalm 23:6

Psalm 34:8

2 Corinthians 5:7

Verse to meditate on and memorize:

John 10:10

Amber Palmer lives in a small farming town with her husband

of 16 years and recently dipped her toes into the wild water rapids of parenting two teens. She has a big heart for encouraging women to live from the deepest peace of Jesus. Through her writing, Amber guides her readers to keep their eyes locked on Jesus through the heartbreaking and beautiful moments life may bring. She knows His presence and peace makes all the difference! Follow Amber at My Jars of Clay.