Confession #80 - Why do the Wicked Succeed?

As a Christian I look around at what is happening in this world, I think, “How can they get away with this?”  Why can wicked people get away with hurting, damaging and possibly destroying others for their own gain?

Sadly, I do not even have to look at the world to see this common practice ring true, I can simply look within my own family.  People with selfish and greedy intentions taking advantage of the system and the more innocent to get what they desire.  It is so sad, it can be so infuriating and can lead to jealousy, rage and anger.  Unfortunately, I have been there my friends, believe me.  I look at all they prosper in and wonder where is ours?  Why don’t we get a break for once?  Why do they always get what they want, and their evil plans and desires always seem to be granted?  There have been moments when I have allowed these feelings to make my physically sick to my stomach. 

For example, this quarantine has made it impossible for my husband to work.  He is certainly not

considered essential by any means.  Luckily, I have been able to continue working from home, but my work is part-time and does not sustain us financially.  We have applied for every form of aid available only to be told we don’t qualify because we own a small business.  In fact, we only qualify for a small business loan which must be paid back at 3% interest.  I do not believe borrowing money is a wise choice when I will never know if I can pay it back, it is simply delaying the inevitable and putting ourselves in further debt.  A choice I will never make again.  But these “self-serving” people I know hardly work a day and seem to get all the aid and assistance the system has to offer and on top of it they still have people supporting them financially.  It. Blows. My. Mind.

Just yesterday my husband was feeling the sting of jealously and anger towards these same people in our lives and soon I fell into the same trap.  And then, my friend, God showed up BIG time to set my focus right.  I remembered a verse from Psalm 37:8 that says “…do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.”  So I repeated that to my husband.  But I couldn’t remember the rest so I went and looked it up today and read the entire chapter of Psalm 37:

1Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
2For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.
3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.
6He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.
7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways,
when they carry out wicked schemes.
8Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.
9For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
11But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
12The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
13but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.
14The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.
17For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever.
19In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
20But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields.  They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.
21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.
22Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed.
23The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.
24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.
25I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.

26They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.
27Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.
28For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints.  They are preserved forever,  but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.
29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.
32Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
33the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment.
34Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land.  When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
36yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.
37Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of

peace.
38But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.

Let’s paraphrase that chapter for a moment:

Don’t get upset or worry, they won’t last for long, believe in God and do the right thing.  Take joy in the things of God and He will favor you and give you want you ask if you are committed to Him.  Whatever your fight is He will give you victory and advance your ministry.  Wait on God and do not worry about bad people who do bad things and succeed.  Don’t get mad or worry it will only hurt you.  In God’s time, he will deal with their sins and you will be successful.  Soon they will be gone, and you will not see any of them at all.  Stay humble and God will give you everything.  There will come a time that they will suffer for their sin and God finds humor in those days.  They work to hurt others, but they will only serve in ultimately hurting themselves.  You are more blessed to have little than to have gained much through sin.  

The Lord will break the wicked and bless and favor His people.  God gives eternal

goodness to those who obey to those He loves, and in bad times he provides for their every need.  And sinners will die away.  The good will provide for the less fortunate and evil doers will go into debt.  Those God favors will get it all and the wicked will lose it all.  God guides those He loves, and they will rejoice about where they are going.  Even when they have difficulty, they will not feel lost because they know God is with them.  Those God favors, He has never left alone or let go hungry.  They have more than they need and help others and are blessed with families.   

Do not do evil and you will live eternally.  God is just and will not turn away from His people.  They are given everlasting life but the wicked are turned away by God.  Those who trust God get all of God’s blessings and will live that way forever.  For those who live holy and have knowledge and dispense justice, God uses them to speak for Him.  Their hearts are one with God and they do no wrong.  Whenever evil doers look to attack God’s people God removes their authority and judges them righteously.  

Be patient and wait while doing good, and God will bless you and allow you to see these wicked people be punished.  You may see them succeed at first, but eventually they will disappear and never be heard from again.  People who sow peace, are considered by God.  He looks upon them with goodness and joy.  And those who do bad will be taken away and will die in their sin. 
God saves those who love and obey Him, He gives them strength and power.  God saves and rescues those He loves who do His will because they believe and trust in Him.

WOW.  That is POWERFUL!  There are so many evil things going on around us and it seems this world gets more and more wicked Every. Single. Day.  But God sees all, God knows all.  Let us keep ourselves in perfect peace.  Let us find joy and strength in the Lord alone and He will do right by us.  He will advance us, He does bless us.  Let us serve Him wholeheartedly with unending devotion so that it will go well with us and our generations to come.  Let us trust in Him and lean on His wisdom and understanding.  Let Him avenge us while we live to please Him in all we do.  That's what I'm going to do, how about you?

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you with all my heart for reminding me that I do not need to be sad, scare, or angry any longer.  That all I need is the continued trust I have in you knowing that you will never leave me nor forsake me.  That your love for me is so immense that I cannot even quantify it.  I pray you will keep me in perfect peace through the days to come through the wickedness all around me.  Keep my eyes focused on you.  And Dear Lord I pray the same for my sisters and brothers in Christ.  In Jesus’ precious name I pray.  AMEN!