Sometimes you face problems in life that you know are your own fault. You simply have not done what you should have, and now you are reaping the consequences for it. When that happens, you can pretty well understand what is going on.
But what about the times that you feel you have done everything (or at least the basic heart of things) the right way and things still go badly for you? How do you feel then? Confused? Angry? Bitter?
Have you ever had a tough decision in front of you between doing what would “benefit” you and doing what you knew was right? Perhaps in a time like that, you stood firm and did what you knew God would have you do. How did it work out?
When you do what is right, is there any guarantee that you will not suffer for it? Is there any promise that everything will turn out just the way you would like? So far as I can tell, there is not.
But here are some things that you can still hold on to as certain, truths that can give you hope and encouragement when you do what is right and things still don’t go your way:
First, rest assured that it is always better to do what is right, regardless of the outcome. If you were to lose everything you had, and even your very life, for the sake of what is right, you should still always, without exception, do what is right. You know that. You will be able to be at peace when you know you have not compromised.
Second, rest assured that God sees and knows your faithfulness. You might not always be aware, and it may be hard to remember at times, but God has not forgotten you, and He never will. His eye is always upon His people who are faithful to Him. God knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Third, rest assured that whatever you thought was the best outcome for you must not have been best after all. God’s will is always better than you think. If He allows things to turn out different than you had wished, it is because He has something better for you. Trust Him in this! It will give you rest, peace, and even excitement looking forward to what God will do in your life. If you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart. He is always working all things for the good of those who love Him. If you can learn to trust God this way, it will make all the difference for you when things are not going as you would like.
May we all learn more of this faith.
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