By Caro July 26, 2024
Following what God says, especially in relationships, can be difficult and even frustrating when we see that unbelieving couples date each other without restraint. But don’t give up: you will be happy that you have kept your standards.
You are not the first to find that following God becomes frustrating when those who do not follow Him achieve the success you wish they had. David had complained about it too. “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by him; he sneers at all his enemies. He says to himself: Nothing will ever shake me. He swears: No one will ever do me harm” (Psalm 10:4-6 NIV) We see our unsaved co-workers getting what they want much more easily. And not just in love! With a few lies, they get better positions at work. By giving bribes, or paying “under the table”, they obtain contracts more easily. We then seem to be losers in following the standards of holiness.
It is also this feeling that Asaph describes, in Psalms 73. Until verse 16, he envies the life of the “wicked”, who do not submit to the standards of the children of God. But in verse 17 (NIV), his speech changes because he then “entered the sanctuary of God”. When we draw near to God, we see life through His eyes, and the standards become evident and essential again.
Following God’s precepts may be difficult, and may seem like a disadvantage to us, but our perseverance is worth it. If we persevere in our faith, remaining firm in our convictions despite the pressure of our desires, we will obtain the “reward” of being with our Lord for eternity. When we think about marriage and building a family, it is easy to forget the ultimate goal of our life. Death and eternal life seem far away in our thoughts when our celibacy is heavy to bear. But the apostle Paul encourages us to stay the course. “You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised. For in a very short time: The One who is coming will come and will not be delayed. Those who are right with me will live by faith. But if they turn back with fear, I will not be pleased with them. But we are not those who turn back and are lost. We are people who have faith and are saved” (Hebrews 10:36-39 NCV).
When we resist the temptation to give up on our beliefs, we not only position ourselves to receive the reward Paul mentions but also stay on course for all kinds of other blessings. God loves His children, and when we give our lives to Him, He places all kinds of blessings on our life’s path. As we continue to walk the right path toward the ultimate goal, we will inevitably encounter these blessings. We just need to stay the course, as Matthew 6:33 says: “Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well”. And our God is not poor! “My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need” (Philippians 4:19 NCV).
God wants to encourage us today not to compromise our faith because we are “tired” of waiting to wait until marriage or because our desires are pressing. He knows how we feel. He knows that it is not always easy to follow His path; He knows that everything would seem easier if we acted like the world. But we will never be disappointed for having kept the faith. Because, as the psalmist also concluded, after a time, the “wicked” suffer the consequences of their bad decisions. So let those who have persevered rejoice. “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You” (Psalms 9:10 NKJV).