Psalms 73:11-14 NLT
11 “What does God know?” they ask.“Does the Most High even know what’s happening?” 12 Look at these wicked people—enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. 13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? 14 I get nothing but trouble all day long;every morning brings me pain.

We as Christians believe that God is good!

Luke 18:19 NIV
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

1 John 1:5 NIV
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

If God is not able to prevent evil, then he’s not all-powerful.

If God is not willing to prevent evil, then he’s not all good.

If God is both willing and able to prevent evil, then why does evil exist?

Psalms 119:68 NIV
68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.

Psalms 100:5 NIV
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;his faithfulness continues through all generations.

God did not create evil.

When it’s not a part of the plan remember this world is not the end.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

When it’s not a part of the plan remember God does use those tough times in life for an ultimate, lasting good.

Romans 8:28 NIV
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

When it’s not a part of the plan allow God to use you to help and serve other people.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NIV
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

When it’s not a part of the plan to suffer remember it was a part of God’s plan all along for Christ to suffer for us, so that even in our suffering we still have the Savior.

1 Peter 2:20-23 NIV
20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.

Genesis 13:8-12 NIV
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” 10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.

Compromises, no matter how small, can lead to significant consequences.

We can be forgiven by God and still have the consequences of our sin.

Make choices which value relationships over rights.

“Please let there be no strife between you and me, ... because we are brothers.”

Make choices which value Godliness.

Make choices which value God’s eternal promises over immediate pleasure.

My response is my responsibility.

Do I trust that God sees me?

Psalms 20:7 NIV
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Genesis 12:1-4 NIV
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation,and I will bless you;I will make your name great,and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you,and whoever curses you I will curse;and all peoples on earthwill be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.

Hebrews 11:8 NIV
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

The faith to which we are called is not faith in a plan, but faith in the person of Jesus Christ. Much more important than where we are, God is concerned with who we are, and in Whom do we trust in.

God is not nearly so concerned with geography as He is with Godliness.

How do you grow to trust in a God and a plan you can’t see?

You Obey!

You Pray!

Psalms 28:7 NIV
The Lord is my strength and my shield;my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.My heart leaps for joy,and with my song I praise him.

If it is not in the mind of Christ, then may it not be in me.

You kneel!

Matthew 4:18-20 NIV
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

Acts 2:38-41 NIV
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Set goals before we strive for success.

Your success is a gift from God.

Acts 17:25 ESV
nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Success and hard word are a companion.

Proverbs 21:31
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Keep a heart of thankfulness

Ephesians 5:20
giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Two questions to help steward our success:
Will my enjoyment of this help or hurt others?
Will my enjoyment of this slowly enslave me?

1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.