When You Check All the Right Boxes

I am a Christian. Check.

I prayed today. Check.

I had my morning and evening devotions. Check.

I go to church on the seventh day of the week—every week. Check.

I eat a healthy vegan diet and exercise at least three times a week. Check.

I am active in my local church. People really like me there. Check.

I love God with all my heart. Check.

I’m going to have a great, neatly packaged, happy life… Blank.

All of the above are good things. Very good. But what happens when you faithfully do all the “right” things for days, weeks—even decades—and life still falls apart? What happens when life doesn't fit into that neatly packaged box of a happy, orderly life? Your spouse dies. Your child rebels. You're facing a divorce. You receive a dreaded diagnosis—despite living a healthy lifestyle. Life gets messy. What then?

We often think of Job when we picture someone who faithfully followed God, did what was right, and still suffered catastrophic loss. It's a somewhat comforting biblical reference, but many lesser-known individuals in the Bible also suffered despite their faithfulness. Their experiences remind us that suffering is part of the Christian life. As true disciples, we are called to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Following Him doesn't guarantee wealth, health, or fame. But we have the wonderful promise of eternal life with Him. One day, we can walk on heaven's streets of gold—the true “walk of fame,” unlike anything Hollywood has to offer.

Imagine being the mother of the unnamed man mentioned in John 9. Better yet, imagine being that blind man. Perhaps you're living with blindness yourself. As Jesus passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. How old was he? Twenty-one? Fifty-two? We aren't told. But we do know he had never been able to see.

Perhaps his mother had enjoyed a wonderful pregnancy, eagerly awaiting her beloved child. Maybe she and her husband had hoped for a child for many years. Perhaps this was their only child. In those days, children were often expected to help care for their aging parents and assist with the daily responsibilities of life.

Imagine the heartbreak of delivering a beautiful child, only to discover that he couldn't see. He couldn't look into his mother's or father's eyes. His parents would have helped him navigate a world he couldn't see, describing his surroundings and protecting him from dangers. What must it have been like for him never to see the sunshine, a bird, the trees, or a beautiful blue sky? Life was undoubtedly challenging, especially without the medical advances and conveniences available today.

Nevertheless, he grew into adulthood. Scripture gives us few details about his childhood or family life. When the disciples asked Jesus whether the man's blindness resulted from his own sin or his parents' sin, Jesus responded: “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:3).¹

“It was generally believed by the Jews that sin is punished in this life. Every affliction was regarded as the penalty of some wrongdoing, either of the sufferer himself or of his parents. It is true that all suffering results from the transgression of God’s law, but this truth had become perverted. Satan, the author of sin and all its results, had led men to look upon disease and death as proceeding from God,—as punishment arbitrarily inflicted on account of sin. Hence one upon whom some great affliction or calamity had fallen had the additional burden of being regarded as a great sinner…Jesus answered the question of the disciples in a practical way, as He usually answered questions put to Him from curiosity. The disciples were not called upon to discuss the question as to who had sinned or had not sinned, but to understand the power and mercy of God in giving sight to the blind. It was evident that there was no healing virtue in the clay, or in the pool wherein the blind man was sent to wash, but that the virtue was in Christ.”²

What a powerful lesson for us today! The man's blindness wasn't punishment for a particular sin committed by him or his parents. Likewise, we may faithfully follow God and check all the right boxes, yet still experience suffering.

Perhaps you can relate. What difficult situation are you facing today, despite doing what you believe is right? Even when we don't understand why trials come our way, we can trust that God is with us and can use our circumstances to reveal His power, love, and mercy.

When life has been messy for me, I've found comfort and strength in God's Word. Scripture is filled with promises that keep us grounded in God's truth, even when life doesn't unfold as we expected. Here are some of my favorites:

• 1 Peter 5:10: “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." Our gracious God is with us through our suffering, helping us become more spiritually mature, steadfast, and settled in Him. This has certainly been my experience through the trials I've faced over the years.
• Romans 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." When we remember that something far greater awaits us, we can face our present difficulties with hope. The glory God has promised far outweighs anything we suffer here on earth.
• Romans 5:3–4:³ “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.” God can use our trials to develop patience, strengthen our character, and deepen our hope in Him.
• John 16:33:⁴ “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” I can have peace knowing that the difficulties I'm facing are no surprise to God. Jesus has overcome the world, and through Him, I can face whatever comes my way!
• Psalm 34:19:⁵ “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” I shouldn't be surprised when trials come. Even those who faithfully follow Jesus experience suffering. But I can trust that God will never abandon me. His deliverance may not always come when or how I expect, but His promises remain sure. I can honestly say that He has been faithful through every trial I've faced.

Call to Action

Are you facing a trial despite doing everything you believe is right? Remember, following Jesus doesn't mean life will always be easy, but it does mean you never have to face life's difficulties alone.

Will you trust Him today, even when life doesn't go according to plan?

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Unless noted otherwise, scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1. Scripture is taken from the King James Version.
2. Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898), 471.
3. Scripture is taken from the King James Version.
4. Ibid
5. Ibid