Good Friday is a revered holy day that marks the death of Christ.
It’s easy for us to throw around the word GOOD when it relates to Christ’s death, isn’t it? We know his death was for our GOOD. And we can be happy and grateful for his sacrifice.
But it’s NOT easy to use the word GOOD when we talk about the difficulties and death of anyone else. In fact, the word death usually evokes deep sorrow, tears, and despondency. Thinking of difficulties and death as GOOD is very foreign, even absurd, right? No one wishes difficulties and death upon themselves or anyone.
I’ve recently been reading a book by Larry Crabb called, When God’s Ways Make No Sense. He tackles the difficult subject of God’s goodness when bad things happen.
Crabb discusses how we often project our culture’s ideas of goodness onto God. After all, we live in an entitled world that desires comfort, possessions, safety, health, and wealth. Often we believe if God is good, he’ll surely bless us with all those things.
But the Bible actually gives us a much different picture of what God’s goodness entails. He’s never promised to make us happy and wealthy and secure in this life. In fact, the New Testament is full of verses that restate what Christ said: “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows” (John 16:33).
What I’m learning through all of my trials and sorrows is that GOOD can come from and through them in ways I never expected. I’m realizing God’s GOODNESS is NOT in tangible things. Instead, his GOODNESS is in the life he resurrects inside me every time I experience loss or difficulties.
I let brokenness slip through my fingers (broken relationships, broken dreams, broken desires, broken health, broken hearts). In the letting go, I make room for him to quietly breathe in his GOODNESS, the very breath of his life. Every time I die to myself, he brings to life new love, new peace, new joy, new contentment.
As we take a moment to think about Christ’s death today on Good Friday, may we rethink our definition of what is GOOD. If Christ’s death was GOOD, maybe death and difficulties truly can produce GOOD in us as well.
Have a blessed Good Friday!
Jody Hedlund
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Such wonderful words, Jody. Thank you for expressing this so beautifully and reminding me of this good perspective on death. Have a blessed Easter.
Jody, I love your fresh perspective on this Holy Day. Thank you for reminding me that Jesus can transform the broken pieces of our lives into something new, whole, and strong, if we invite His goodness into our souls.
Beautiful post, Jody. Thank you! Praying a wonderful Easter for you and your family.
What a wonderful reminder that in this sinful world, Cristians shouldn’t expect to be happy all the time. In my mind, this time of year I minimize the pagan name Easter and focus on Resurrection. It gives me PEACE. Blessings and Thanks, Jody!