One of the hardest things to get used to growing up for me, was to realize that just because you “do things right”, doesn’t mean that people will treat you good, or reward you. It’s really a harsh introduction into a sinful world, where justice is perverted and kindness is taken advantage of.  Such things can really harden your heart if it is not guarded…

It’s a natural expectation to think that if you do good to others it will be returned to you. It’s actually a biblical principle of sowing and reaping (not karma!).  But the promise of reaping good, has more to do with having our expectation in God, and not people! God wants our confidence to rest in Him being just and true, whereas us as people are generally fickle, and respond according to our own biases and emotions.

It becomes all the more important to do as the Psalmist did, and live in communion with God.  That we don’t abandon where our reward and expectation ultimately comes from, especially when disappointed from the way people deal with the love we try and show them.  The Psalmist knew prayer was what guarded his heart from the negativity of this world, that enabled him to continue to give love, even when it was met by hate…

The challenge for you and I will always be to walk in unconditional love.  Yet that is impossible without finding our expectation and hope ultimately in God.  Sure we all would like consistent reciprocity for our love towards others, but that is naive in a sinful world.  So our heart can go one of two ways.  1) Either you harden it because of the negative responses to the love you give, 2) or you keep it open in prayer, because God’s love conquers all things!

In His Love, LD