Lyrics
Verse 1
I didn't know the Healer
'Til I needed healing
I didn't need a Savior
Or some kind of anchor
'Til I lost my way
And I didn't know the Father
'Til I felt like an orphan
And I didn't need a river
A gracious forgiver
'Til my soul was stained
Pre-Chorus
And You took my hurting
And gave it purpose
Chorus 1
Thank God for the anger
That forced me to pray
Thank God for the silence
That taught me to wait
If He spared me from breaking
And God knows I did
Then I never would have ever known
How good God is
I never would have ever known
How good God is
Verse 2
I didn't know the Spirit
'Til I felt His power
And I didn't see the light
'Til He opened my eyes
In my darkest hour
And I didn't know the Lion
'Til I heard His roar
When I was surrounded
And couldn't fight without Him
Not one second more
Chorus 1 (Reprise)
So thank God for the anger
That forced me to pray
Thank God for the silence
That taught me to wait
If He spared me from breaking
And God knows I did
Then I never would have ever known
How good God is
I never would have ever known
How good God is
Chorus 2
Thank God for the weakness
That showed me His strength
Thank God for the fire
That forged me with faith
If He spared me from drifting
As far as I did
Then I never would have ever known
How good God is
I never would have ever known
How good God is
Bridge
God is good
God is good
God is good
No, I never would have ever known
How good God is
I never would have ever known
How good God is
Chorus 3
Thank God for His kindness
To give up His Son
To sit there and watch
As He says, "It is done"
If He spared Him from thorns
And the nails through His wrists
Then I never would have ever known
How good God is
I never would have ever known
How good God is
Credits & Song Information
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Brandon Lake wrote How Good God Is with Jonathan Smith, Emily Weisband, and Derrick Southerland during a Nashville songwriting camp. Lake later explained that the song came from recognizing what God had taught him through valleys, tests, and trials. The studio single builds that idea through a sequence of needs: healing reveals the Healer, weakness reveals strength, and silence teaches waiting. Each chorus names a difficult experience and then turns it toward gratitude, without calling the pain itself good. The second chorus expands that pattern from anger and silence to weakness and fire. A short bridge reduces the argument to a repeated declaration before the final chorus points to the crucifixion as the clearest example of costly love. Romans 5:3-5 supports the song’s link between suffering, endurance, and hope, while 2 Corinthians 12:9 directly matches its contrast between human weakness and God’s strength.
Related Scripture
- Romans 5:3-5 Paul connects suffering with perseverance, character, and hope, matching the song’s account of lessons learned through hardship.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 God’s power is made complete in weakness, directly matching the song’s contrast between weakness and divine strength.