Being a Christian doesn’t give us the secret code the universe or guarantee us all the right answers in every situation. It also doesn’t give us superpowers to avoid making our own mistakes. If you wanted to boil it down, being a Christian is really just accepting God’s grace, trusting in His power and His answers.

Good things will happen, and we may react the way we should. We may also let our blessings overshadow the Blesser. Bad things will also happen, and we may react with patience and faith, or with fear and doubt. In both good and bad times, if the Spirit guides our hearts, we experience peace and freedom, and when we guide our own steps, we suffer, regardless of our circumstances.

Thankfully, God doesn’t rely on our obedience to do good things. He has the knowledge and power to do good things in all situations, and this is all He does. The gift of a relationship with Him is the freedom to know that we can’t mess up His plans. No decision we make or situation we encounter will outmatch His ability to benefit His kingdom. When things go well for us, He will do good things. When we struggle, He will do good things. When we make mistakes, He will do good things. Notice a pattern?

God doesn’t need us to get out of His way so He can work. He tells us to get out of His way so we can enjoy His work and trust that His plans are best, whatever they are.