Charles Swindoll, in his book Abraham, paints a powerful picture of faith matured over time. By the moment Abraham was called to place Isaac,the son of promise,on the altar, he had walked with God through decades of miracles, delays, and divine interventions. Abraham’s faith had been forged in the fires of waiting, wandering, and wondering. And by then, he was absolutely certain of one thing: the goodness of God.

He knew,he knew, that if Isaac’s life was taken, God could raise him from the dead. And if not, then God would provide something so unimaginably better that Abraham wouldn’t dare dream it.

At the heart of this is goodness. The Hebrew and Greek Picture of God’s Goodness

In Hebrew, the word most often used for goodness is טוּב (tov). It’s the same word God used in Genesis 1 when He saw creation and called it “good. But tov goes deeper than just “morally right” or “pleasant.” It means beautiful, bountiful, and beneficial something that brings life and flourishing to everything it touches.

In Greek, the word ἀγαθωσύνη (agathōsynē) captures this goodness. It’s more than a description, it’s action. It’s goodness that is active, generous, and selfless, flowing out whether the receiver deserves it or not.

That’s the kind of goodness Abraham knew: the goodness of a God who blesses without measure, who gives beyond deserving, who is amazing beyond our capacity to comprehend.

A Gift You Must Take by Faith, Like any gift, you can only experience God’s goodness by receiving it. By reaching out with faith. By letting Him surprise you.

I was reminded of this on a recent trip to Grindelwald, Switzerland. The icy mountain peaks stood like ancient watchmen, guarding a lush, green valley below. A glacier-fed river ran through it like liquid emerald, and the air was so crisp it felt like it was washing my lungs clean. I could hear the delicate music of melting snow trickling down the mountain, joining the river’s song.

I stood there, heart stilled and eyes wide, whispering:
“Oh wow, God… thank You for being generously kind enough to let me see this beauty.”

God’s goodness isn’t just in mountaintop moments, it’s in the ordinary, everyday mercies that take your breath away when you stop long enough to notice.

I see God’s kindness when Mateo suddenly leans over, kisses me and his dad on the forehead, and bounces out of the car. I see His kindness when Luca sneaks into my bed at night, wrapping his arms around me like a two year, old who never grew up.
I see His kindness when I catch my husband’s beautiful face in a moment of stillness and remember how deeply I love him.

These are all God’s to , His bountiful, life-giving gifts.

To see God’s goodness, you have to tap into it. You have to slow down. Breathe it in. Stand still long enough for your soul to be captivated.

As Psalm 34:8 says: “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”

Be deliberate about creating moments that take your breath away. Look for His kindness let it inspire you.
Let it shine through you.

Because when you know the absolute goodness of God, like Abraham did, you stop fearing the altar. And you start expecting the miracle.

Love V