Once we decide to obey God completely, it’s easy to assume that the rest of our life will run smoothly. If it does, we think this proves that we’re doing God’s Will. If we run into obstacles, however, we’re quick to conclude that we must be doing something wrong or God is unhappy with us. Rather than question our measuring stick, we question our dedication, and sometimes even God.<\/p>\n
It’s a myth to believe that if we obey God, everything will always go well. Being dedicated to God means going with Him even when things don’t go our way. In fact, as you consider the growth of the church in the first century, the Bible is clear that the gospel advanced during times of suffering.<\/p>\n
Although Paul was imprisoned when he wrote to the Philippians, his adversity didn’t cause him concern. His objective was to preach the gospel and he didn’t question that goal just because he had been arrested. He made the most of the circumstances and continued to proclaim Jesus even to his captors. His imprisonment furthered the gospel!<\/p>\n
“Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the Word of God without fear<\/em>” (Philippians 1:12-14).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
How would you and I react if we were in Paul’s shoes? Would we question our faithfulness, God’s love for us, or perhaps question if there was even a God?<\/p>\n
Don’t be fooled by the misleading notion that life will be easy if you obey God. God doesn’t always remove difficulties; He uses them for your good and for His glory.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Shane Williams via The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, Nos. 4,5, Aug\/Sept. 2008. Once we decide to obey God completely, it’s easy to assume that the rest of our life will run smoothly. If it does, we think this proves that we’re doing God’s Will. If we run into obstacles, however, we’re quick to conclude…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[642,188],"class_list":["post-58273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-christianity","tag-trials"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9761,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-i-obey-god-even-though-i-dont-want-to-is-that-proof-that-i-love-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":58273,"position":0},"title":"If I obey God even though I don’t want to, is that proof that I love God?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day, When I do something because it's a commandment from God, and even if I don't want to, is that not proof that I love God? So there are things I don't like to do but because I love God I do it anyway. And on the other\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52787,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-secret-things\/","url_meta":{"origin":58273,"position":1},"title":"The Secret Things","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 28, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Matthew W. Bassford Many Christians don't venture deep into the wilds of Deuteronomy, but Deuteronomy 29:29 is a text that is relevant for everybody who thinks deeply about spiritual things. In it, Moses says, \"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/secret-300x199.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":88756,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/love-service-and-obedience\/","url_meta":{"origin":58273,"position":2},"title":"Love, Service, and Obedience","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer We serve what we love, and we obey what we serve. What does that mean? It is possible to be coerced into obedience, but this is not love. However, when we love something or someone, we serve, and in serving, we obey. I believe the word \"obey\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":27480,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-are-we-to-be-obedient-to\/","url_meta":{"origin":58273,"position":3},"title":"What are we to be obedient to?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What are we being obedient to? Is it the Old Law? Is it God's commands? What commands does God have? The old testament commands? 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