Let me ask you a question. Have you ever looked at someone else's life in envy? Have you ever wondered why they seem to have everything that you want? It can be easy to look at the world and think maybe those living in it have it easier. After all, look at Job: he lost everything. Look at the disciples: they were all martyred for their faith except for John who was exiled (and Judas but that is a whole other story entirely). These men followed the Lord; shouldn't they have had more luck? Well, my readers, I cannot tell you why you are not getting what you want. What I can tell you is that God has a reason for why you are in the exact place you are in right now.
I used to look at the lives of others and think, "So, I live for God, and this person lives in sin and for the world. Yet, they seem to have everything they could ever want and seem to have no troubles. Why would God do that for someone who does not even care about Him, but then not do that for me: His daughter?" I would immediately feel guilty for thinking that way because of how much God has blessed me with. I am not worthy of anything that He gave me, and I need to be grateful for His graciousness.
The issue is that we are looking from a worldly perspective, but God is looking from a Heavenly perspective. He does not see things the way we do: in the present here and now. He can see the entire future. He can see how things could work out badly when we can't. If you are not getting what you want, it may be that He is protecting you from something you have no idea could happen. I love that about Him. Nothing is ever bad with Him because He promises to work everything together for our good. No matter how bad a situation may seem, He will bring good out of it in the end.
Back to what I mentioned earlier about the sufferings of Job and Jesus' disciples, let's remember the rich man. He rejected Christ, obviously was not living a life sold out for Jesus. In a worldly sense, though, he seemed to have it all. He never had to wish for anything, but we then see that later he lifted up his eyes in hell. This is the bottom line guys: it is so much better to be on the inside looking out than on the outside looking in. Job, the disciples, and others who suffered for Christ's sake may not have had the perfect lives, but they are living in the presence of God as we speak. The ending was worth it for them. I can promise you that the rich man would now trade all of his riches to have what they are experiencing in Heaven. Just remember that you have a Heavenly home and will win.
They say "The grass is always greener on the other side," which is to say that something always seems more desirable when you can't or don't have it. Well, we serve the God of green grass: regardless of how dry and dead our grass may seem, He can always bring it back to life with His living water. You just have to ask Him: He specializes in bringing the dead back to life in case you forgot about Jesus' resurrection.
The Lord gave you your grass and not someone else's for a reason. Take care of what He has given you and be thankful for it. I guarantee you did not deserve what He blessed you with, but you have it still because He loves you. He loves you. He loves you.
