Based on Psalm 107:31-43 (New King James Version)
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders. He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into watersprings. There He makes the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city for a dwelling place, and sow fields and plant vineyards, that they may yield a fruitful harvest. He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; and He does not let their cattle decrease. When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow, He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice, and all iniquity stops its mouth. Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.”
There are many people who have different opinions about why circumstances happen in this life. There are, for example, those who think that they will do well depending on how they do things, that is, they think that a person will do well if they make an effort, if they dedicate themselves to what they are going to do, and if they are responsible. And of course, they think that the opposite is also true, and yes, there may be some truth to that. There are those who think that, in this life, everything is about opportunities, or even luck, that whatever a person does, everything will happen or not by itself. If we go by those who associate circumstances with spiritual things, there are many believers who think that everything will work out for them if they have enough faith in God. There are others who associate their circumstances with the way they believe God sees them, that is, if things are going well for a person, it is because God is blessing them because they are better than others, and vice versa. There are believers who think that circumstances depend on what they do right or wrong, that if they do well, that God is blessing them for their good works, and if a person is doing badly, it is because there is something wrong with them, or God is punishing them. In summary, we could see all kinds of ideas because there may be many reasons for why circumstances are what they are, but what is the only constant in all of this?
The first thing we should see, and if we really go by the obvious (although sometimes the obvious is not so obvious to everyone, because it all depends on how a person wants to see things) is that through the ups and downs, or good circumstances or bad circumstances, like the ones we read about in the passage, is that there is only one constant in all of this, and that is Lord. Whether things go well, or things go badly, God is the only One who does not change, and the One who is involved in everything that happens, what we see as good and what we see as bad. So, if God is the only One who does not change, and the One who allows everything to happen, and of course, the One who will be there at the end when this is all over, both for each person, and universally, is it worth focusing so much on the circumstances, or in what happens in the present? Now, it does not mean that what happens now does not matter, because it does matter, and a lot, especially what we do individually and why we do or don't do things. What I mean is that whatever happens, we should always keep in mind God, and that He is the One who matters most in all of this. And if we focus on Him, then we should care supremely about what He is going to do with us in the end, based on what we do during this passing and temporary time. This, for example, the Lord taught: “‘Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect…’ …And the Lord said, ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.’” Luke 12:35-40, 42-48. So, what happens in the present matters a lot, but what matters most is how God sees us. And note that the Lord is speaking of servants, that is, those who not only belong to the kingdom, but also those who serve Him. So, this thing that many people believe and preach that we will not give an account for our actions as believers is completely false. And if God will judge the deeds of those who serve Him, how much more will God not judge those who despise Him, or do nothing for Him, or do not take Him seriously or into account? What will God do with those who, knowing the truth, do not follow it, but do things as they see fit? The broad way that is preached is truly a narrow gate.
This is what we should always keep in mind, especially as believers, through whatever circumstances come our way, whether good or unpleasant: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-8. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. So, if you find yourself in good circumstances, always think that God will ask you to give an account, and that He will judge you according to what you did during those good or difficult circumstances, in various problems. This is the end of the matter: God will not care so much about the circumstances, but rather, He will care about what we do in them, and if in all of this we seek to love Him above all things, being subject to His Lordship or not. This world fades away, but the Lord will always be Lord, and our eternity depends on Him, and He will determine our future according to our hearts and our deeds. So, what does the Lord see in your heart and in your actions in all of this? Lord bless