Truth Over Outcomes: Why Results Are Not Proof of Obedience

I do not believe that anyone who willfully tolerates sin can truly be doing the will of God from the heart, nor do I believe that anyone who quenches the Holy Spirit can genuinely align their will with His. Just because God uses something for good does not mean that what people have done is right. In fact, if a good outcome occurs without people recognizing their mistakes, that may be a terrifying sign that God is allowing them to remain in sin because of their stubbornness. Without recognizing their faults and practicing true repentance, they will commit the same sin again and again—because no one can repent of sin without first acknowledging it.

Moreover, that particular good outcome is for others, not for the people who remain unaware of their wrongdoing. Scripture repeatedly shows that God may speak truth or bring blessing through individuals whose hearts are not aligned with Him, without endorsing their actions or character. A clear New Testament example is Caiaphas, the high priest: God used him to prophesy that it was beneficial for one man to die for the people, yet this prophecy did not justify Caiaphas’s intentions or his heart, but for Jesus Christ's glory.

The Old Testament bears the same witness. God used Balaam’s mouth to bless Israel despite Balaam’s corruption, and Saul and his messengers prophesied through the Spirit of God even while they were persecuting David. In all these cases, the good outcome served God’s redemptive purpose for others, not the spiritual validation of the unrepentant individuals through whom it came.

Therefore, we should not evaluate our faith—or whether we are doing God’s will—by outcomes, but by character. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are about character. The transformation of our minds is the evidence that the Spirit of God is at work within us. To discern whether we are in true faith, we must confirm every prompting or impression with the Holy Spirit. Even though God sometimes works through circumstances or people, we must personally confirm every message delivered to our minds with the Spirit. Walking in step with the Holy Spirit is essential.

When the storm comes, how a person reacts reveals their faith in God. In their hearts, do they complain about their circumstances, about people, or even about God? Or do they immediately ask the right question: God, what are You teaching me through this now?

We ought to be people who do not subvert logic to emotion. Emotions are reflections of our experiences. They can be important signals that call for awareness—but they should not occupy the position of decision-making authority. To truly protect our emotions, we must cling to the Truth and adjust our feelings according to His living Word. That is the key to not losing heart. Feelings waver; Truth cannot be shaken.