While it’s fine to say, “God is good,” there are times when it can feel awkward, and you start thinking about what else you could say instead.
For example, the phrase “God is good” might not be the best choice when you should actually be thanking the person or people who played a key role in making something good happen.
Some of us have experienced situations where saying “God is good” isn’t welcome in certain church communities because it’s seen as disrespectful or using God’s name in vain.
Whatever the situation, we’ve put together a list of better alternatives you can use instead of “God is good.”
Key Takeaways
- God is good” is often said as an expression or reaction to both good and bad situations to acknowledge the role of God in happenstances.
- In cases where you can’t say “God is good,” say “Thank goodness” instead.
- You could pluralize it by saying, “Thank the gods!
- There are many other options. What you say in replacement will depend on whether you like its sound and whether it fits the context.
If you’re trying to find something else to say instead of “God is good,” don’t be too hard on yourself. It can be tough to change habits, but there’s no need to feel bad about it.
The fun part is you can even come up with your alternative. One clever idea is to learn words or phrases of gratitude in another language or even in an ancient, rarely-used one.
For example, if you figure out how to praise a god from 6,000-year-old Babylon, that would be pretty cool and definitely unique!
But if that sounds like too much work, pick one of the options from the list below.
List of the Best Synonyms for “God is Good”
- I’m so grateful
- Thank the gods?
- Thankfully
- Thank goodness
- Thank baby Jesus.
- Good God
- It’s good to see/hear.
- I feel fortunate that…
- Goodness be thanked.
- Goodness from the fairies.
- Allahu akbar
- Blood and bloody ashes
- The stars are good.
- God is faithful
- Heaven’s kindness shines.
The choice you make will depend on the situation. You’ll also need to consider things like: Are you just talking to yourself, or are you trying to find alternatives to talking to others, especially Christians?
When speaking with others, many words better suit different situations than the usual “God is good.”
Depending on what happened, you can use words that more accurately express the exact emotion you want to share.
1. I’m so grateful
“I’m so grateful” is a great go-to response when you don’t want to say “God is good” and feel unsure of what else to say.
What makes this phrase so useful is that it shifts the focus away from using God’s name and shows the actual reason for your gratitude. It works best in moments when you would normally say “God is good” in response to good news.
It’s also perfect for expressing thanks directly to the people who deserve it, rather than simply saying “God is good” without acknowledging those who made the good thing happen.
2. Thank the gods
You can also say “Thank the gods” when you want to avoid saying “God is good” but still make a similar point.
This is basically pluralizing the “god,” which is logical because the Christian god is one of the countless deities that have been ‘believed’ to exist.
This phrase, inspired by Rick Riordan’s books, can refer to any number of potential gods that you might prefer over the Christian God, which adds a bit of humor to it.
“Thank the gods” is a popular and stylish alternative, perfect for when you want to sound a bit more playful or unique.
3. Thankfully
The idea behind saying “God is good” is to show an attitude of thankfulness, whether in good or bad situations. People use it to express both gratitude and grief when things go wrong.
That’s why “Thankfully” can be a good replacement for “God is good.”
However, it’s best to use this phrase when you’re reacting to something positive, not when something unfortunate has happened.
4. Thank goodness
What’s interesting about saying “Thank goodness” is that if you catch yourself halfway through saying “thank God,” it’s easy to switch and correct yourself.
It’s also a popular phrase, so no one will find it strange as you avoid using God’s name in conversation.
“Thank goodness” is versatile, too—it can be used in a wide range of situations, just like “God is good.”
5. Thank baby Jesus
I’ve come to accept that “God is good” or even “thank God” are just common expressions, and I’ve learned to see them for the everyday context in which they’re used.
We still say these things automatically when the moment calls for it, but they don’t carry any deeper meaning beyond a quick emotional reaction.
With that in mind, you might not even mind saying something like “thank baby Jesus” either.
6. Good God
“Good God” is a a great alternative for “God is good ” especially if it’s more of a personal matter.
This is also a great substitute if you’re talking to someone you have a close relationship with.
7. It’s good to see/hear
Even if you’ve never had an issue with saying, “God is so good,” it’s really just about shifting your perspective.
If you don’t even want to say this one, you can instead say “How fortunate”
8. I feel fortunate that…
As a Christian, if you’re not allowed to say “Thank God it’s over” or “God is good” because doing so is considered taking the Lord’s name in vain, you can shift the focus away from God’s role in the situation and instead focus on how the event made you feel.
By using words like “fortunate,” you’re simply expressing your feelings about the good news rather than attributing it directly to God.
9. Goodness be thanked
When the moment calls for it, you can say “Goodness be thanked” instead of “God is good.”
This alternative sounds more casual and neutral, making it suitable for a variety of situations.
This is great, especially in settings like the workplace where “God is good” might feel too sensitive or out of place.
10. Goodness from the fairies.
I remember when my friends and I would send each other “fairy dust” for good vibes. We’d “thank the fairies” or swap in whichever deity we felt like that day—Thor, Ra, Aphrodite.
If we were feeling extra playful, we’d even send our thanks to our TRUE lord and savior, Jeff Bezos—who we jokingly call “Beef Jesus” in our house.
So, it’s all about how creative you can be when trying to say things differently based on that context.
11. Allahu akbar
If you’re looking for an alternative way to say “God is good,” “Allahu Akbar” is a strong option. However, it can make some Americans feel uncomfortable.
“Allahu Akbar” is Arabic for “God is great,” and it’s a great example of how switching languages can offer different phrases to express similar sentiments.
This shows how easy it can be to find a suitable alternative in another language.
12. Blood and bloody ashes
For those who’ve read a lot of *Wheel of Time* like me, it’s hard to resist picking an alternative from there.
I often find myself using their expressions. Phrases like “Thank the Light” and “Burn me” work perfectly as replacements for “God is good.”
But honestly, “Blood and bloody ashes” captures the expression even better.
13. The stars are good
Just as many people attribute events to God’s involvement, others look to star signs, alignment, and astrology for explanations.
“The stars are good” and “God is good” are quite similar in their meaning, which is why they can be used interchangeably in certain contexts. It’s a fun way to blend spiritual and astrological perspectives.
14. God is faithful
If using “God” in conversation is fine but “God is good” feels too common or cliché, you can switch the adjective “good” for something more specific, like “faithful.”
This works well because “faithful” is a term that appears frequently in the Bible to describe God, giving it a deeper meaning while still acknowledging His presence.
15. Heaven’s kindness shines
You can still show reverence for God without using the term “God” directly.
Instead, you can replace it with “heaven,” which serves as a poetic substitute. This approach can make you sound like a sophisticated writer from the King James Bible era!
Wrapping up
At Phraseably, we understand how tough it can be—maybe you’re struggling right now with how often you use phrases like “Jesus” or “God damn it” and “God bless you.”
Even if you’ve moved away from religion for years, it’s challenging to completely stop using religious expressions, no matter how hard you’ve tried.
We hope this post has helped you find a new favourite phrase to use instead.
