Stop Blaming God For Your Success

Disclaimer: I ask that you not approach this post believing that I have disregarded or dismissed Paul’s admonishment easily found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 where he advises all believers to, one, rejoice always; two, pray without ceasing; and three, give thanks (to God) in all circumstances. This post is a challenge to the Christian who wants to see every good thing as the direct and miraculous work of God in their lives. Living with such a mindset is disingenuous and draining to the life of the believer. Superstition abounds when everything becomes a spiritual matter.

God tends to catch a lot of hate for all the evil that happens in the world. The whole process of theodicy is an indication that human beings have struggled with the existence of an all-powerful benevolent Creator and the ever-present, seemingly (also) all-too-powerful virulence of evil in creation. There is no doubt that we all struggle with the gravity of pain and suffering evident in the world. You needn’t go far to find it either. Open Instagram, Facebook, (avoid TikTok), or X/Threads and you can search for a recent event, a particular city, or a current or past military skirmish happening nearby or on the other side of the planet and you’ll have infinite content from which to pull, study, and weep over. From displacement to abuse, from annihilation to bombardments, from famine to acts of cruelty, all caught on tape…