When Obedience Doesn’t Pay Off

I’ve never been great at tests. I studied, but it just didn’t stick.

So, when a big exam came up in high school, I made up my mind that I was going to cheat, even though I had studied. I knew exactly how I would do it and had a plan. I was sick of getting low grades.

But the moment I sat down, I felt it in my spirit: “You can’t do what they do.”

So, I didn’t. I took the test honestly. And I really believed that because I obeyed God, He was going to come through for me.

I thought I’d at least get a C. Instead, I got a D+.

That was the first time I remember feeling like obedience didn’t work.

It took years for me to learn that faithfulness isn’t about control but about trust. Galatians 6:9 doesn’t promise instant reward. It promises a harvest in due season if we don’t give up.

Your obedience is never wasted. Even when it doesn’t benefit you, it’s building something in you.

Reflection Prompt:
Can you think of a time when doing the right thing didn’t "work"? What did it reveal about who you’re really doing it for?