16:7 – When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Yet, Jesus said, “In this life, you will have trouble.”
What’s up with that? How do we reconcile those two concepts?
It’s interesting the verse says “his enemies” not “His enemies.” The Lord promises to make our enemies to be at peace with us. God never promises Satan will be at peace with us (at least not before the end of days). He suffers him to be at liberty to do evil in the world.
Until then, God chooses to allow Lucifer to tempt, lie, destroy, and kill God’s creation (us).
Remember, usually, it’s Satan driving the opposition, yet still God chooses what will be allowed.
God did not prevent enemies from attacking the Israelites. He just gave them victories over their enemies for as long as their ways pleased the Lord!
Too often, we expect that upon becoming a Christian, all our troubles will magically melt away. Ask any veteran Christian, and he (or she) will tell you that their troubles did not vanish with their surrender to Christ.
Instead, we receive help whenever it is needed. Sometimes He helps us get out of a particular situation; sometimes He helps us endure a particular situation.
Peace can be achieved because the Lord chooses to change the mind of the ruler, or because He chooses to guide the efforts of the victors. In all cases, it is God’s power that guarantees the peace.
Our challenge is to ensure our ways please Him. Or, as Abraham Lincoln famously said,
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
Every day, we make a choice. Choose the way that pleases the Lord, He’ll take care of the rest.
