but the wicked are filled with trouble.” NRSV
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NRSV).
I think that circumstances being good or bad is more about our perception, our interpretation, than an actual reality. Oh, agreed, there are horrible things that happen in the world! But we know that already. We know that the world is full of sin and sinful people. But we also know that the Father has promised to work all things for our good. why are we so amazed, so filled with consternation when something “bad” happens?
I think that our expectations are more to blame than the circumstances. I truly do. We know that God is in control, so nothing that happens to us is any kind of surprise to Him. He has already made every provision that we need for this need, unexpected situation. Why then are we so fraught with anxiety, so worried, so upset? God only allows what He wills for our good.
“No harm happens to the righteous!” That doesn’t mean that we live lives free of troubles, but that the troubles are being worked out for our good by Father God Who is the Creator, Owner, Ruler of the universe. What happens may seem like trouble, but it cannot harm us because He protects us and uses it for our good. (I know I’m saying that over and over again, but somehow we need to get it in our brains that it’s true!)
A number of years ago, I taught on the Lord’s prayer. One of the verses that really hit me was the verse: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 NRSV). You see, what I realized was that not only this was true, but the inverse was also true. In other words, while God gives us our daily bread, if He doesn’t give us something, then we don’t need it. We may think we do, but we don’t. (And who are we to argue with God?)
I think that this verse in Proverbs has a lot to do with mindset, with how we view the world. Notice that “the wicked are filled with trouble.” The NAB says it this way:
“the wicked are overwhelmed with misfortune.”
Overwhelmed. That’s a mindset. That’s how we view something. Feeling overwhelmed. Filled up. No room for anything else. No room for trust or optimism.
You see, I’m convinced that Christians who truly trust God are optimistic. And why not? We have God on our side and all of eternity to enjoy Him in Heaven. What’s there not to be optimistic about? The other side of that is that we secretly want to blame God for the things we consider to be troubles when, in fact, it is our own sin or the sin of those around us causing those troubles. God isn’t to blame and has, in fact, made provisions for us. We just need to trust Him. “No harm happens to the righteous!” The greatest perceived harm is death and death no longer holds any fear for us:
“For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ “ (1 Corinthians 15:52-56 NRSV).
If we truly trust God, if we truly believe that He works everything out for our good, then we will truly believe that no harm comes to the righteous. And when we are filled with consternation and anxiety, we know that the remedy is to run to the Throne and confess our sins, for He is faithful to forgive us, to cleanse us, and to make provision for every need.
© 2008 Robin L. O’Hare. All Rights Reserved. International copyright reserved. This study may be copied for nonprofit and/or church purposes only without permission when copied in its entirety (including this notice).
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