“My son, do not forget My laws, but let your heart keep My commands.” – Prov. 3:1, NKJV

Further, to each of the commands of God listed above, there is a promise attached to each of them:  (v1) length of days and long life, and peace; (v4) favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man; (v6) God will direct our paths make them straight; (v8) good health to our flesh and bones; (v10) the blessing of prosperity and satisfaction; and (v12) the promise of His love.

As I was reading and studying these verses in scripture, I began to think back on all the things I had experienced in my own life. In the heat of my circumstances, did I always keep God’s laws and keep His commands?  Did I trust God’s truth over my own understanding of any particular situation?  Did I always give Him praise and glory in every situation? Have I always honored God with my possessions, giving to Him the first of anything? Did I despise the Lord’s chastening of me over my bad decisions or did I welcome it?  If I am as honest as the sky is blue and the grass is green, my answer for the most part would have to be no, because if we say “sort of” or “maybe,” then to God that is a solid no. Either we are going to obey the Lord’s commands with an honest heart or we are not – there is no middle ground.

When the Lord finally said enough is enough and picked me up out my mess and changed my life, though it has taken much time and prayer and reading and applying of scripture, I have come to just say, “Thank You, Jesus” in the good times and the bad times.  If I am truly honest, I would say it was the easiest to do and most beautiful when in the most unthinkable and unexpecting of circumstances – when my son took his own life – that I remember telling God that I would still love Him. I remember that the only words that would come were “thank You, Jesus.”  Thank you for our son’s life, thank You for his beautiful smile and huge heart, thank You for the time we had together, thank You for his salvation, and many more “thank You’s” that just came because of the love and grace and mercy shown poured over my family by God. 

Everything we go through no matter how minor or devastating, God has a plan for it.  God wrote our story before the creation of the world.  He knew every choice we would make – good or bad.  And, for the bad choices, He already had a plan to use them for His glory. All glory is God’s in every situation – and it does not depend on whether we say it or not.  All glory is God’s. When we are walking in God’s will, He is ready for the decisions we will make.  He is ready to reward us in our good choices and discipline us in our bad ones.  We too must be ready to honor God in all things – give Him praise when thing go well and give Him praise for the discipline we receive when things do not go so well.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we praise You for You are holy and good.  We thank You that our lives are in Your hands – having a plan for every choice we make whether good or bad.  In the good times, we give You praise with hands raised and open.  In the bad times, we also open our empty hands and ask that You take our mess(es) and glorify Thyself.  We pray all honor and glory to You in the beautiful name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, amen. 

(Hope For Life Ministries, 2026)