Is God good even in the most painful times in life? In his book The Pleasures of God, John Piper shared the following account from the life of 19th century British orphanage founder George Mueller to illustrate his point.

On February 6, 1870, George Mueller's wife, Mary, died of rheumatic fever. They had been married 39 years and four months. He was 64 years old.

Shortly after the funeral he was strong enough to preach a "funeral sermon" as he called it. What text would he choose when God had taken his beloved? He chose Psalm 119:68, "You are good, and do good." His three points were:

1. The Lord was good, and did good, in giving her to me.
2. The Lord was good, and did good, in so long leaving her to me.
3. The Lord was good, and did good, in taking her from me.

Under this third point, he recounts how he prayed for her during her illness:

Yes, my Father, the times of my darling wife are in Thy hands. Thou wilt do the very best thing for her and for me, whether life or death. If it may be, raise up yet again my precious wife. Thou art able to do it, though she is so ill; but howsoever Thou dealest with me, only help me to continue to be perfectly satisfied with Thy holy will."