It’s so easy for us to sit and have a pity party when hard times come our way especially when we are doing right. We expect blessings for obedience and when we get trials it seems as if we have the right to look up and say, “God, you are supposed to be good! You are supposed to bless me.” God’a goodness, however, is not limited to our present circumstances.

“Remember that ALL things {not just good things} work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his name.” Romans 8:28

Don’t let a bad attitude, a sin, or circumstances of this life allow you to forget the goodness of God. He will always come through. He will always work hard things out for the glory of God in your life. Let the Holy Spirit shine a light on things that will hinder our full service for the kingdom. Whatever you do, even when you so desperately want to, do not quit. God has a lesson and a blessing right around the corner.

Think of Nehemiah. He was called according to God’s purpose. He was called by God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. God allowed him to leave Persia, where he had a servant to the king, travel safely to Jerusalem with the kings permission and supplies to rebuild the wall! That must have been so reassuring that God was on his side. However, after he had rallied the people together and they were in the middle of working, the outsiders started to mock him. They were relentless. They told him that he couldn’t do it. He was smart enough. He wasn’t strong enough. They even threatened to attack the city while they were building. Nehemiah could have doubted God’s goodness at that time. He could have thought, “God, you told me that you would be with me! I’m doing this in obedience and for Your name, God. You told me you would bless me! You called me here to leave me?”

But he didn’t do that. He prayed, trusting that God would do just as he said He would. He would be with Nehemiah. He would help him to finish the work that he started…. Even if hard times came crashing in. He could have quit, but he didn’t.

The truth is God never said that it would be easy, but I have never heard of anyone who regretted not giving up on God. When we show ourselves faithful to Him, He shows Himself doubly faithful to us.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

What’s the trial that you’re going through? Is it bigger than your calling? Is it bigger than your God? Of course it isn’t. He sees and knows everything. Be encouraged! Every promise of God is true, and even when we don’t understand, hard times will prove God faithful… As long as we don’t ever give up.