We all know that song, “God is good all the time!” And we sing this song joyously anytime the Almighty God, Jehovah Sabbaoth does something good for us. We sing it proudly at churches and at other Christian gatherings.

But anytime something evil (bad) happens either in our lives or around us – be it loss of a job, sickness or loss of a family member or friend, we begin to question the goodness of God. We begin to ask so many questions, which always begin with, “Why….?”

Today is exactly eight days ago when we lost our dear President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills in Ghana here. This is the first time something terrible as this has happened in the history of this country, Ghana. And a minute silence has been observed today. His death came as a shock to all and sundry. Many questions have been asked and some have even dared to ask why God could allow such a thing to happen. Will you be like the heathen who don’t know their god or will you trust Jehovah Sabbaoth to lead this country?

When we go through Scripture, we find that Satan strategy was to destroy Job when he lost his children and material possession. But, even in this Job cling to God. Because Job knew God was His only provider.

Yes, it is difficult when these terrible things happen to us. Sometimes it is too difficult to take them in. But, there is only one place we can find solace – the Bible.

When Job was afflicted with a deadly skin disease, his wife asked him to denounce and curse God, so that he could die, (Job 2:9). David Guzik said, “Satan’s goal in his attacks against Job was to shake Job from his standing; he failed in regard to Job, but he succeeded in regard to Job’s wife.”  Job’s response to his wife was in wrath. He said unto her, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?”, (Job 2:10).

Job did not say his wife was foolish, rather she spoke like one of the foolish women, which according to John Gill, intimates that “she was a good woman, and had always been thought to be so; but now spake not like herself, and one of her profession, but like carnal persons”. It is interesting that Job in his entire affliction did not curse God. And we all know the conclusion to his troubles. The Bible said that He had twice what he originally possessed, (Job 42:10).

Now, the question Job asked was, “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” This is an interesting question. And I know this particular question has made some people think that God is evil. But it should be noted that there is no darkness in God, (1 John 1:5), which implies that there is no evil in Him. Job was just expressing his understanding of the current situation as evil. Whilst in all honesty that particular period in his life was a test of faith. As Paul put it, no temptation has befallen any man of God that is more than he can take, (1 Corinthians 10:13).

We as human beings may not have all the answers to all the questions. Why this person is like this, why is this good man murdered, or why did God allow such a person to lose his job etc.? As the Bible says, God’s ways are not our ways and as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways, (Isaiah 55:9).

There is nothing wrong with asking questions. What would you do when you get the answer to the question? On the other hand, what would you do when you don’t get the answer to the question? Job, the Psalmist, Jeremiah and Habakkuk all asserted that the wicked always prosper and why should this always be, (Job 21:7, Psalm 17:10, Jeremiah 12:1, Habakkuk 1:16)?

Sometimes, we may get the answers to these questions immediately. Other times, the answers may delay. And on many occasions we may not get any answer at all. But, most of the times, the questions come as a result of our misunderstanding about God and His creation. For example, in humans terms material possession is prosperity. As a result people ask such questions as the one Job and the rest asked.

But, the question then is, can you trust your God through His Son Jesus Christ, to keep His promises to you even if things aren’t all rosy now? Can you be like Job who even though has not got all the answers still had faith and complete trust in God? Is your God still good all the time even when things don’t go the way you want it? Can you cling to Him all the time? Remember: He is Jehovah Sabbaoth, (the Lord of Host).