When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned: Trusting God’s Goodness in Grief

When my husband and I had been married for almost two years, we found out we were unexpectedly pregnant with our first baby. Though it came as a surprise, we were completely overjoyed and began preparing our hearts and home for parenthood.

But just a few weeks later, we lost our baby.

The pain and heaviness we experienced were unlike anything we’d ever known.

When God’s Goodness Feels Hard to Grasp

In life’s most difficult moments, it’s natural to wrestle with questions about God.
How could a good God let this happen?
Why didn’t He intervene?

We often say “God is good” when our prayers are answered the way we hoped. But what about when they’re not? What about when the outcome leaves us brokenhearted? Do we still believe in His goodness?

God's Character Doesn’t Change with Our Circumstances

The truth is, God’s goodness isn’t defined by our circumstances.
His nature doesn’t shift with our seasons.
He is good—not only when life feels full of blessing—but also when we’re walking through deep valleys of loss and heartache.

In a world where pain is inevitable, this truth anchors our souls: God doesn’t stop being good just because our situation is hard.

The Comfort of a Sovereign and Loving God

Romans 8:28 offers a powerful promise:

“For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

That “good” may not always look like what we imagined. It might not be healing or restoration in the way we desire. But it will always be shaped by God’s perfect wisdom and love.

We may not understand His ways, but we can trust His heart.

Declaring His Goodness in Grief

In the book of Job, we see a man who loses everything, and yet he still proclaims:

“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” – Job 1:21

This kind of faith doesn’t minimize grief. It doesn’t silence sorrow. It simply says: Even here, God is still good.

When we declare His goodness in the midst of loss, we aren’t pretending everything’s okay—we are proclaiming that His character remains true and trustworthy, no matter what.

A Final Word of Encouragement

Friend, if you’re walking through unexpected grief or disappointment today, may you be reminded that you’re not alone. God sees you. He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and He is working—even when you can’t yet see how.

Keep trusting Him. Keep clinging to His Word.

His goodness is not dependent on how you feel—it’s rooted in who He is.

Scriptures to Meditate On:

Psalm 34:8 – “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him…”
Psalm 100:5 – “For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever…”