November 23rd, 2025
by Pastor in Succession Brandon Maclin
by Pastor in Succession Brandon Maclin
# The Unshakeable Goodness of God: A Life-Changing Truth
There's a simple yet profound declaration that echoes through the halls of heaven and should resonate in every believer's heart: **God is good**. Not sometimes good. Not conditionally good. But consistently, unfailingly, eternally good.
In a world filled with inconsistencies, disappointments, and uncertainties, this truth stands as an unshakeable foundation. When everything around us crumbles, when circumstances contradict our expectations, when life throws its hardest punches—God remains good. And this goodness isn't just a theological concept to memorize; it's a living reality that transforms how we approach life, worship, and our relationship with the Divine.
## The Posture of Gratitude
Psalm 100 invites us into a specific posture: "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good."
This isn't a suggestion—it's a declaration of how we should approach God. We don't come into His presence casually, indifferently, or with a spirit of entitlement. We come with thanksgiving. We come with praise. We come ready to acknowledge His goodness.
Think about it: When you truly recognize all that God has done, you don't need to be warmed up for worship. You don't need a choir to sing you into the right mood. You don't need someone to coach you into gratitude. When you remember the goodness of God, worship becomes spontaneous, natural, and irrepressible.
He woke you up this morning. He gave you breath in your lungs. He provided for you through seasons of uncertainty. He protected you from dangers you never even knew existed. He opened doors that seemed permanently closed. He made ways where there appeared to be no way. That's reason enough to make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
## Created With Intention
The goodness of God is first revealed in **His hand of creation**. Psalm 100:3 reminds us: "It is he who has made us and not we ourselves."
In today's culture, we celebrate being "self-made." We take pride in our independence and accomplishments. But this self-made mentality can disconnect us from our spiritual DNA. The truth is, you didn't create yourself. You didn't choose your gifts, your talents, or your unique design.
Genesis tells us that God spoke stars, the moon, and the sun into existence—and called it good. He spoke light into being—and called it good. He created birds, fish, trees, and all of nature—and called it good. But when it came to humanity, God did something different. He didn't just speak us into existence. He formed us from the dust of the ground with His own hands.
He gave you eyes for observation, ears for interpretation, a mouth for communication, hands for activation, feet for transportation, and a mind for meditation. Every detail of your design was intentional.
**You are not an accident.** You were born in purpose, with a purpose, for a purpose.
You may look at yourself and see insecurities, inadequacies, and disqualifications. But here's the liberating truth: you didn't create you, so your assessment doesn't override God's design. When God's hand is on you, it doesn't matter what you struggle with.
Moses stuttered—God still used him. Sarah doubted—God still blessed her. Peter cursed—God still called him. David was a schemer—God still anointed him. Rahab was a prostitute—God still redeemed her. Elisha battled depression—God still empowered him.
Your problems aren't too big for God to use you. You are still qualified for His goodness and His purpose.
## Loved Despite Our Wandering
The second way God demonstrates His goodness is through **His heart of intention**. Psalm 100:3 continues: "We are his people and the sheep of his pasture."
This imagery connects directly to Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." But here's the uncomfortable truth about sheep—they wander. Even when they have a good shepherd providing everything they need, sheep have a tendency to stray.
Sound familiar?
If we're honest, much of the trouble we've encountered in life wasn't forced upon us. We walked into it ourselves. We made choices we knew were wrong. We pursued paths we knew were dangerous. We wandered away from the Shepherd's protection.
Yet even in those valleys—even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death—God doesn't abandon us. His rod corrects us, and His staff protects us. He doesn't give us what we deserve; He gives us what we need: **another chance**.
And another. And another. And another.
When mercy should have taken us out, grace stepped in. When consequences should have destroyed us, God's love covered us. We should have faced disease, imprisonment, or worse—but God said, "Not yet. I'm not finished with them."
This is the scandalous grace of God. This is His heart of intention toward us. Even when we mess up—repeatedly—He continues to walk with us, love us, and extend chances we don't deserve.
## An Everlasting Harvest
The final way God shows His goodness is through **His harvest of provision**. Psalm 100:5 declares: "For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations."
The Hebrew word translated as "mercy" here actually means "love." And "truth" refers to God's faithfulness. So this verse is really saying: God's love is everlasting, and His faithfulness continues through every generation.
This is God making a covenant with His people. As long as you are His, you have access to an unlimited supply of His goodness. His love never runs out. His faithfulness never expires. His provision never depletes.
But here's the key: we often don't truly understand God's goodness until we face trouble. You don't know God as Healer until you get sick. You don't know Him as Provider until you're down to your last dime. You don't know Him as Protector until danger surrounds you. You don't know Him as Redeemer until you've strayed and found Him waiting with open arms.
The same God who was faithful to previous generations will be faithful to you. The same God who brought you through last year will bring you through this year. The same God who made a way before will make a way again.
## Living in the Goodness
So what does this mean for us today? It means we have something solid to hold onto. When 2026 arrives with its own set of challenges, the same good God will be there. When circumstances shift and uncertainty rises, His goodness remains constant.
His faithfulness is everlasting—it never runs out. Because of this truth, we can face the future with confidence. We can worship with abandon. We can trust with assurance.
Goodness and mercy don't just accompany us—they chase us down. They run after us every single day. Even when we slow down, goodness catches up. Even when we stop, goodness surrounds us.
**God is good—all the time. And all the time—God is good.**
This isn't just a catchy phrase. It's the foundation of our faith, the reason for our worship, and the hope for our future. When you truly grasp this reality, everything changes. Your perspective shifts. Your worship deepens. Your confidence grows.
So enter His gates with thanksgiving. Enter His courts with praise. Be thankful and bless His name.
Why? Because the Lord—our God—is good.
There's a simple yet profound declaration that echoes through the halls of heaven and should resonate in every believer's heart: **God is good**. Not sometimes good. Not conditionally good. But consistently, unfailingly, eternally good.
In a world filled with inconsistencies, disappointments, and uncertainties, this truth stands as an unshakeable foundation. When everything around us crumbles, when circumstances contradict our expectations, when life throws its hardest punches—God remains good. And this goodness isn't just a theological concept to memorize; it's a living reality that transforms how we approach life, worship, and our relationship with the Divine.
## The Posture of Gratitude
Psalm 100 invites us into a specific posture: "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good."
This isn't a suggestion—it's a declaration of how we should approach God. We don't come into His presence casually, indifferently, or with a spirit of entitlement. We come with thanksgiving. We come with praise. We come ready to acknowledge His goodness.
Think about it: When you truly recognize all that God has done, you don't need to be warmed up for worship. You don't need a choir to sing you into the right mood. You don't need someone to coach you into gratitude. When you remember the goodness of God, worship becomes spontaneous, natural, and irrepressible.
He woke you up this morning. He gave you breath in your lungs. He provided for you through seasons of uncertainty. He protected you from dangers you never even knew existed. He opened doors that seemed permanently closed. He made ways where there appeared to be no way. That's reason enough to make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
## Created With Intention
The goodness of God is first revealed in **His hand of creation**. Psalm 100:3 reminds us: "It is he who has made us and not we ourselves."
In today's culture, we celebrate being "self-made." We take pride in our independence and accomplishments. But this self-made mentality can disconnect us from our spiritual DNA. The truth is, you didn't create yourself. You didn't choose your gifts, your talents, or your unique design.
Genesis tells us that God spoke stars, the moon, and the sun into existence—and called it good. He spoke light into being—and called it good. He created birds, fish, trees, and all of nature—and called it good. But when it came to humanity, God did something different. He didn't just speak us into existence. He formed us from the dust of the ground with His own hands.
He gave you eyes for observation, ears for interpretation, a mouth for communication, hands for activation, feet for transportation, and a mind for meditation. Every detail of your design was intentional.
**You are not an accident.** You were born in purpose, with a purpose, for a purpose.
You may look at yourself and see insecurities, inadequacies, and disqualifications. But here's the liberating truth: you didn't create you, so your assessment doesn't override God's design. When God's hand is on you, it doesn't matter what you struggle with.
Moses stuttered—God still used him. Sarah doubted—God still blessed her. Peter cursed—God still called him. David was a schemer—God still anointed him. Rahab was a prostitute—God still redeemed her. Elisha battled depression—God still empowered him.
Your problems aren't too big for God to use you. You are still qualified for His goodness and His purpose.
## Loved Despite Our Wandering
The second way God demonstrates His goodness is through **His heart of intention**. Psalm 100:3 continues: "We are his people and the sheep of his pasture."
This imagery connects directly to Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." But here's the uncomfortable truth about sheep—they wander. Even when they have a good shepherd providing everything they need, sheep have a tendency to stray.
Sound familiar?
If we're honest, much of the trouble we've encountered in life wasn't forced upon us. We walked into it ourselves. We made choices we knew were wrong. We pursued paths we knew were dangerous. We wandered away from the Shepherd's protection.
Yet even in those valleys—even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death—God doesn't abandon us. His rod corrects us, and His staff protects us. He doesn't give us what we deserve; He gives us what we need: **another chance**.
And another. And another. And another.
When mercy should have taken us out, grace stepped in. When consequences should have destroyed us, God's love covered us. We should have faced disease, imprisonment, or worse—but God said, "Not yet. I'm not finished with them."
This is the scandalous grace of God. This is His heart of intention toward us. Even when we mess up—repeatedly—He continues to walk with us, love us, and extend chances we don't deserve.
## An Everlasting Harvest
The final way God shows His goodness is through **His harvest of provision**. Psalm 100:5 declares: "For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations."
The Hebrew word translated as "mercy" here actually means "love." And "truth" refers to God's faithfulness. So this verse is really saying: God's love is everlasting, and His faithfulness continues through every generation.
This is God making a covenant with His people. As long as you are His, you have access to an unlimited supply of His goodness. His love never runs out. His faithfulness never expires. His provision never depletes.
But here's the key: we often don't truly understand God's goodness until we face trouble. You don't know God as Healer until you get sick. You don't know Him as Provider until you're down to your last dime. You don't know Him as Protector until danger surrounds you. You don't know Him as Redeemer until you've strayed and found Him waiting with open arms.
The same God who was faithful to previous generations will be faithful to you. The same God who brought you through last year will bring you through this year. The same God who made a way before will make a way again.
## Living in the Goodness
So what does this mean for us today? It means we have something solid to hold onto. When 2026 arrives with its own set of challenges, the same good God will be there. When circumstances shift and uncertainty rises, His goodness remains constant.
His faithfulness is everlasting—it never runs out. Because of this truth, we can face the future with confidence. We can worship with abandon. We can trust with assurance.
Goodness and mercy don't just accompany us—they chase us down. They run after us every single day. Even when we slow down, goodness catches up. Even when we stop, goodness surrounds us.
**God is good—all the time. And all the time—God is good.**
This isn't just a catchy phrase. It's the foundation of our faith, the reason for our worship, and the hope for our future. When you truly grasp this reality, everything changes. Your perspective shifts. Your worship deepens. Your confidence grows.
So enter His gates with thanksgiving. Enter His courts with praise. Be thankful and bless His name.
Why? Because the Lord—our God—is good.
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