Still In Control

“For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.” (Ps 135:5-6 AV)

 

It is very easy to forget that despite what we see or sense, God is in control of everything.  We Buffalo suffers a deep freeze and several dozen perish, it is hard to see that God is in control.  When nations are at war with one another, it is hard to see a God who governs all things.  When tragedy occurs, God’s sovereign control is doubted.  When the power fails, when the children are sick; when the car breaks down; or the hot water heater springs a leak; we may question if God is really in control.  When the enemies of the cross persecute God’s people, we may wonder if God knows what is going on and if He is acting on our behalf.  When life is not as we think it should be, our spirit wonders if God is actively working in our lives for our benefit and blessing.  When things do not go as we think they should, then God becomes less than He is.  But the Bible clearly states that God is in control all the time and no matter what happens, it is all in the perfect plan of God.

There are theological reasons why it would seem God may not control all things.  Some of these ideas have a perceived conflict.  The conflict is resolved when we consider the eternal nature of God.  Suffice it to say, bad things happen because God has given mankind the freedom of choice.  From Adam until today, mankind is the author of most of his problems.  There is also the matter of faith.  Faith requires testing.  Faith cannot remain dormant.  It must be tested to mature.  The nature of faith requires we endure hardships so that God may prove Himself greater than we previously believed.  Let’s face it, though.  Sometimes those theological explanations may not alleviate our feelings.  We may still feel anxious.  We may still feel agitated or frustrated.  Our once strong faith may seem as though it has weakened.  This is what happened with Job.  He had it all together.  He had it all figured out.  He feared God and eschewed evil.  He was consistent in his walk with God and interceded with God for his kids and wife.  He was faithful to everything God asked of him.  And God blessed him as a result.  But when those blessings were removed, he began to question God’s judgment.  He wondered if it would have been better had he never been born.  As strong as Job was, he still doubted.  It would be experiences of life that solidified Job’s faith in the sovereignty of God.

The same is true for every saint.  We may doubt from time to time.  But time and experience will bear out the truth of God’s sovereignty.  This does not come immediately.  No matter how well educated we are in the truths of God’s word, life gets difficult and doubts will come.  It is not the word of God alone, but the word of God and the hand of God that builds our faith.  Especially in the never-ending sovereignty of almighty God.  God has not changed.  He has a plan.  He has objectives of which we are a very small part.  There is a conclusion to all this.  We may not understand, at least for the moment, but God knows what He is doing and has not lost control of creation.  He is not a deist.  God is a sovereign God who remains engaged and active.  He intercedes and works every second of every hour of every day in the things of this world.  If we give Him the benefit of the doubt, we just may see some of what He is doing.