Win is Discouraged

A fool ruins his life
Yet his heart rages against the Lord.

I understand that my foolish decisions will yield undesirable outcomes, and I have only myself to blame for this. But what of those times when I am trying my best to do the right thing, to live according to the way You’ve decreed I should, and the outcomes are still less than desirable? When bad decisions beget bad results and good decisions beget only slightly-less-bad results, what is the motivation to even try to do the right thing? You’ve promised a life more abundant; You’ve also promised a life of trouble. I sincerely hope that You don’t mean that You’re promising a life of more abundant trouble. Often times it feels this way.

I accept that there are times I knowingly choose to do wrong, and I accept the punishment that follows so quickly at its heels. But You must also accept that there are times that I knowingly choose to do right because I want to do what pleases You, but those times seem to yield little reward. Instead things seem to continue to fall apart around me.

This is discouraging.