When Everything's Going Well

Work is good right now. The kids are back in school, and it’s a happy time of life. You and your spouse have been getting along really well. The bills are paid, sometimes even a little ahead of schedule. You live in a nice home and drive reliable cars. Even your friendships are drama-free and enjoyable. Life, for once, isn't throwing anything at you.

So what do you do with a season like this? Most of us never ask, because we don't think we need to. Trouble is what makes us reach for God. When at ease, we tend to quietly let go of His hand—not on purpose, just because our grip loosens when we don't feel like we need it.

Moses saw this coming for Israel before they crossed into the Promised Land. He warned them that when they had nice houses, growing herds, and full bellies, "your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:14).

Not rebel against Him. Not renounce Him. Just forget Him…the quieter, more common danger. Not a dramatic fall, just a slow fade of attention while everything on the outside still looks good.

Here's the thing: a good season is actually one of the best tests of what your faith is made of, because it's the one time nothing is forcing you to show up. So show up anyway.

Start with gratitude—real, specific, spoken-out-loud gratitude, not just a vague sense that things are fine. Name what's good, one thing at a time, and thank God for each piece of it.

Keep praying, even without an urgent need pulling the words out of you. Prayer after a victory keeps you from pleading during defeat. If the only time you talk to God is when you're desperate, you'll start treating Him like a last resort instead of a caring Father.

And look for someone to bless. A good season isn't given to you to hoard. Take somebody to lunch. Quietly cover a bill for a friend who's struggling. Encourage someone who's walking through the hard season you just came out of.

Through all of it, be on guard, especially now. It’s when times are good that we are most vulnerable to temptation. Whatever your greatest weakness is, you’ll be more susceptible to it right now.

Express gratitude, keep praying, bless others, and be on guard, moving closer to the Giver of those good things, rather than away. Don't wait for trouble to remember who's been carrying you all along. Thank Him now, while you can still feel the weight of it.