Romans 4:3 "For what does the scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.'"

While Abraham was in the midst of believing God and preparing to offer his only son Isaac as a sacrifice because God told him to, I would venture to say that any onlooker would not have reckoned it to him as righteousness. Abraham did not know God was going to stop him, he was fully prepared to offer Isaac, as God had asked. It was this total and complete trust in God that is reckoned as righteousness, but again, in the moment, almost no one but God would reckon it as such.

God sometimes asks us to do very uncomfortable things. If we are certain it is God asking us (and that is where discernment is so important), we must trust Him and set out to do what He is asking. He may stay our hand at the last moment, as He did with Abraham, or He may let us feel the derision of our family, friends, and community as we see through these very unconventional tasks He has given us.

I felt that way about my decision not to get the COVID-19 "vaccine." It would have been so much easier to get it, but God had led me to a place where I had a sense of its risks and effectiveness, and I truly felt I was not supposed to. When I took it to prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, I was given a very clear answer that I was not.

I also feel that way now about the upcoming election and my vote. I feel strongly that God is calling me to vote third party, due to that party being the only one that is 100% pro-life (I am very concerned about abortion and IVF, and the loss of human life they both entail). I have received pushback on this (even from myself!), but I prayed on it and was given a sign that I trust. This is not what God is calling everyone to do, I'm sure, but it is what I believe I am being called to do (although I am waiting for election day to vote, just in case God wants to stay my hand as he did Abraham's:).

God accomplishes amazing things when we trust Him. It is reckoned to us as righteousness in His eyes, even if not in the eyes of the world. And being righteous in God's eyes is the only righteousness that matters!