Living a Life of Goodness: Finding Freedom in Challenging Times

In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, how can we live a life of true goodness? How do we find freedom and peace when circumstances seem to conspire against us? Many of us grapple with these questions, especially when faced with unexpected challenges or suffering.

The fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22-23, includes goodness among its virtues. But what does this goodness really mean in our daily lives? It's more than just doing the right thing or following rules. The Greek word agathōsynē carries connotations of generosity and benevolence—a goodness that goes above and beyond what's required. It's about doing something for someone out of the pure goodness of your heart, without expecting anything in return.

But how do we cultivate this type of goodness in our own lives, goodness that reflects God's own character—generous, selfless, and deeply concerned with the well-being of others? It starts with recognizing that where it comes from and how it is attained. It’s not about being smart or skilled. We can be incredibly knowledgeable and eminently competent, but if we lack agathōsynē in our lives, our impact will be limited.
 
The apostle Paul tells the Church in Rome that this type of goodness is also closely linked to living as "children of light." When the fruit of goodness is manifested in our lives, we're allowing the light of Christ to shine through us. Our character and actions speak volumes about the faith we profess.

At this point we might be tempted to think that goodness is achieved by striving harder or forcing ourselves to behave better, but it’s not. It comes about as we allow the Holy Spirit to change our "want to"—our deepest desires and motivations. We can’t white-knuckle our way to holiness. True holiness and freedom come from surrendering to God's work in our hearts. As we open ourselves to his transforming power, we find our desires aligning more and more with his.

This path of goodness travels directly through surrender and often carries us into challenging seasons. As a community, we’ve faced plenty of challenging seasons over the past few months and years—curveballs we never saw coming. Paul reminds us that the "good life" in Christ isn't one free from suffering or hardship. It is one that finds joy and peace in him.
 
This doesn't mean putting on a fake smile or denying our pain. Instead, it means acknowledging the reality of our struggles while still clinging to the goodness and faithfulness of God. It means following the way of Jesus.

This Wednesday we enter the Lenten season. During these next 40 days, starting on Ash Wednesday, we are invited into a time of fasting, prayer, and preparation. Lent reminds us of Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness. The practice of Lent invites us into a similar space of reflection and renewed commitment to God. It's a time to both lay down distractions and take up practices that draw us closer to Christ. It is a time when we remember the high-cost Christ paid for our sins. It is time when we remember his suffering on our behalf.

This season invites us to set aside distractions and embrace Christ more fully. It reminds us that even in our darkest moments, we're not alone. The “good life” finds hope in the promise that chaos doesn't get the final word—that through Christ, even death itself has been defeated.

The good life, ultimately, isn't about everything going perfectly or always having it all together. It's about living one intentional, Spirit-empowered act of goodness at a time. It's about doing the next right thing, even when we don't have all the answers.

As we enter this Lenten season and face whatever challenges lie ahead, let's consider not just what we might give up, but what God is calling us to take up. How can we press into our freedom to follow Christ more closely, even when it's difficult? What would it look like to show His goodness and love to the world around us in tangible ways?

(Blog Post for March 2, 2025 Sermon: A Life That is Free to Promote Goodness)