Bad things happen to righteous people

Just a friendly reminder that you can do everything right, and still be forced to live in a rock for the remainder of your life.

Does anyone else feel like they need that reminder every week or so?!

We love preaching that righteousness = blessings.

But then we sometimes get a false sense of what those blessings are.

If you are righteous, you are not promised freedom from financial issues.

If you are righteous, your spouse can still ask for a divorce.

If you are righteous, you can still lose your job.

If you are righteous, you can have a lot of people really angry at you.

If you are righteous, you can still feel really disappointed by others’ actions.

If you are righteous, it’s possible to not look the way you want to look.

If you are righteous, you can totally fail a test.

If you are righteous, you can still be dramatically harmed by other people.

If you are righteous, you can still be diagnosed with a terrible illness.

So… why am I choosing to be righteous?!

Because of the real blessings that we are promised.

Because of the peace.

The inner joy.

The confidence before the Lord.

And unimaginable and innumerable blessings for the eternities.

Because I love my Savior and my Heavenly Parents, and I want to keep the commandments that I have been given.

But sometimes I need to have that reframe.

I am grateful for all of my outward blessings. I am filled with gratitude when I look at my living situation, my loved ones, my health, my opportunities.

But really, all of those could be taken away.

I could be living in a cave, completely alone for the rest of my life.

And I could still #givethanks.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black