‘God does not execute his judgments in this world so that all things are ruled well, and nothing is out of square. On the contrary, things are confounded, and if we see a wicked man punished, a righteous man is punished much more; and if we see a good man prosper, a wicked man is doubly prospered … If then we judge present things by natural reason we will be, as it were, overwhelmed, and Holy Scripture tells us we shall be so. Although God allows us to experience this, he also graciously warns us of it by his word, so that we are not dazzled and troubled as we see things as they seem to be now, and go no further’ (Calvin – English updated).
Does God not come to the aid of his children? Does he allow them to be crushed by a multitude of misfortunes? Does he allow them to be confused with hypocrites? Yes, he does answer his children and he does deliver them, but not always immediately. He does not prevent them from going through deep waters and painful experiences which work together for their good. By contrast with the hypocrite, the righteous will holds on his way. Though he too faces troubles and though at times it is unclear to the less discerning whether or not he is truly loved by God, the final outcome will reveal all and deliver him from the slurs of the ungodly. The righteous will hold on their way, though that way is rough, confused, and it is hard to see far ahead. He is nevertheless on the right way, for it is the way of trust in God, of holding to his word, of believing that God is good, just, and faithful.