I think sometimes I look at other people and think God let them down somehow. Like they were doing all the right things, and He just decided to let their lives get all jacked up.
Then I fear that He might do the same to me. He might allow my life to go "round the bowl & down the hole" for His arbitrary purposes. I trust Him to meet my needs. But because I'm a firm believer in God's sovereignty (He rules), and I know my life is all about His purposes, not mine, I have this underlying fear that He might suddenly just choose not to bless me, or to suddenly throw my human stupidity in my face and let my life fall apart.
BUT.
I cannot know God's view of someone else's situation. I cannot know their hearts or lives or the inner workings of their world...or even how they will view their time of hardship when they come out on the other side.
I can't base my view of how God works on someone else's experience. ONLY MINE.
And in my experience, He has always been faithful. In my experience, even if something looked like a loss, it was for a "better." The uncertainties and struggles and worrisome times when I was certain it would all hit the fan...those are such pale memories now, in light of the perfectly wonderful outcomes on the other side.
So each day I choose to only look at His faithfulness in MY life. I will not let someone else's situation strike fear in my heart...a fear that God will randomly strike my life with chaos, want, or loss.
He has ALWAYS been good to me. I have never gone hungry or homeless or shoeless. I have never gone bankrupt or been publicly humiliated.
I am willing to go through the above, if God calls me to, to somehow glorify His name, but based on my personal experience and His consistent track record in my life, as long as I "Seek first His kingdom [His rule in my life] and His righteousness, all 'these things' [such as clothing, food, shelter] will be added to me as well." (Matthew 6:33)
What's the worst that could happen? Well, I could die. But... Phil. 1:21 "For me to live is Christ... ['I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord' -Phil. 3:8]...and to die is gain." The moment I step onto Heaven's shore, I will finally see face-to-face the One I spent my life seeking!
Live seeking/trusting Christ. Gauging my trust in Him on His faithfulness that I've experienced already throughout my life.
Die seeing/worshiping Christ.
Either way, it's a win.
P.S. People who believe there is no God, or that God does not want to help/bless them...will never experience Him. For He will not bless someone who will take all the credit for the good when it happens.
