{"product_id":"no-matter-what","title":"No Matter What","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNOT EVERY SAUL IS MADE INTO PAUL\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis realization brought me closer to Christ than I ever expected.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI used to believe that if I gave a level 10 effort, I would get a level 10 outcome.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat's what the world teaches, isn't it?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWork harder. Get more.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDo everything right. Be rewarded.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI think part of my confusion came from the scriptures. They often teach that righteousness brings blessings, and somewhere along the way I started treating those blessings as guarantees.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThen I started paying closer attention.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy was Saul enabled to become Paul?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy was Jonah, a reluctant prophet, used to help save an entire nation?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd why was Abinadi allowed to be burned at the stake?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe more I studied, the more I realized something:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOutcomes have always belonged to God.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSometimes He turns a level 2 effort into a level 10 outcome.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSometimes He allows a level 10 effort to produce an outcome we don't understand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat realization can feel unsettling because we want to be in charge of our lives.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt some point, faith stops being:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"If I have enough faith, God will give me the outcome I want.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd becomes:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"I will trust God no matter what outcome He gives.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat is where I have found Christ.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe loves the widow who offers her mite.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe loves those who pray, \"Help thou mine unbelief.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe knows that in many Sauls there is a Paul.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe sees every imperfect effort and every sincere desire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGod isn't asking us to control the outcome.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe's asking us to keep trying and let Him decide what comes next.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePainting: \"No Matter What\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis painting depicts Christ sitting with a  struggling soul with compassion and encouragement. Heaven sees more than results. Heaven sees effort, faith, and the courage to keep moving forward.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ponder and Paint","offers":[{"title":"8 X 12","offer_id":49215583125752,"sku":null,"price":34.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12 X 16","offer_id":49215583158520,"sku":null,"price":45.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16 X 24","offer_id":49215583191288,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0832\/2632\/9336\/files\/Screenshot_2026-06-18_205516.png_202606182116.jpg?v=1781839269","url":"https:\/\/ponderandpaint.com\/products\/no-matter-what","provider":"Ponder and Paint","version":"1.0","type":"link"}