As I sit in Hickory, NC, I have been reminiscing about our life here. Gaylon was a pastor in Hickory for eight years. We still have friendships that have lasted more than thirty years. I am talking about the kind of friendships where you stay in touch regularly, sometimes travel together, and lean on each other. When you find those friendships, they are a treasure.

Gaylon and I are in Hickory visiting our grandson Tucker who is eleven going on twenty-one! Tucker is such a joy. As I watch his laughter, it makes me think of his father Bryan. Bryan was a jovial, humorous, larger-than-life personality. Tucker is definitely a chip off the old block.

Many of you reading this know that Bryan passed away three months before Tucker was born. To say that was a challenging time would be an understatement. Bryan was so thrilled that he was having a son, and he even put together Tucker’s crib, not knowing he would never see his boy sleep in that crib. The pain of that period was close to unbearable for all of our family, especially for Bryan’s wife.

Were there tears and sorrow? Boatloads. I would not have chosen this path, but today, I came to testify of the goodness and sustaining power of God. Our faith in God remained strong even though our pain was great. We had no idea what the future would look like, but we knew God was holding us. Faith was not a feeling, but a choice.

Walking with God through deep pain and heartaches has taught me more about his faithfulness than any sermon or Bible verse. He has used that grief for good. I did not say grief is good, or that God caused death to bring good, but without hesitation I can say that God has used grief for good. He is the God of redemption. He is the God who brings beauty from ashes.

So often we hear the phrase “God is good” in the context of a wonderful event that took place. “God is good” is often an amen to everything going our way. But God is good even when times are bad. The truth is, God is good because that is His character, not because of anything good that I may be experiencing now. God’s goodness is independent of my circumstances. His goodness is not dependent on my health, wealth, or prosperity. One will be sorely disappointed if they think serving God means only good circumstances will flow. He is simply good. In fact, twelve years after Bryan’s death, I see how God has been with us, how He has strengthened us, how He has used us. Yes, even after catastrophic, unexplainable events in life, God is good.

Is the path before you hard today? God is good. He will not let you walk it alone. God is not absent, and He will not forsake you. He is fully aware of what is happening to you. Choose faith. Accept the treasure of Emmanuel – God is with us!

I look at Mr. Tucker Bryan Benton and say, “God is good! God is faithful! Blessed be the name of the Lord!”

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”-Psalm 34:8.