Proverbs 12:21-22
“No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”
What am I more concerned about, being a delight to God or having an easier life? What guides my decision-making? Is it the desire to avoid trouble or the desire to pursue integrity? Both of those options sound like a good idea, but at the end of the day if I pursue safety prior to principle then I’ll never hold up the many jewels that the Lord desires to place on my crown. As we seek His will, we replicate His character. Therefore, we should be aiming for the righteousness that delights God prior to the protection that His sovereignty offers.
Priorities are a huge principle that the kingdom of God highlights on. As humans, we are subject to cause and effect. But sometimes things happen that we didn’t cause or mean to effect. That is where the priorities of the heart come to the rescue. If we seek to delight in God and yet the world around us is falling in on us, we can take a rest knowing His delight in us isn’t based on just the way life looks. At the same time though, if we evaluate our life and find it to be troublesome, sometimes you will also discover some misprioritizing. If that is the case, thank God that He uses everything messy to create something beautiful. In that moment of self realization you have the opportunity to realign yourself with the pursuit of holiness instead of other things you may have been more concerned about.
It’s a daily exercise to reflex on the motives of your heart, but a very healthy habit to develop. If it becomes consistent, evaluating life’s causes and effects becomes less tasking and more empowering. Above that though, it sets us up for the true fulfillment in life, which is to honor God, not to just avoid troublesome situations.