Wednesday, September 9, 2009

God's Sovereign Control Over Our Circumstances

by Bruce Mills

"For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation; but God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another" (Psalm 75:6-7)

As I was reading the Scriptures this morning, I came across this familiar passage and was reminded that all of the political and economic turmoil which surrounds us is entirely within the sovereign control of our heavenly Father. All the debate over healthcare reform, the war in Afghanistan, whether or not the economy is recovering, and the overall direction toward which our nation is headed is entirely under God's providential direction. Nothing takes place without His designing and directing it to achieve His glory and His eternal purposes. He raises up those whom He desires to lead us, and He removes those whom He desires to remove.

What peace that should bring to our heart! The doctrine of the sovereignty of God is the most comforting of all doctrines because it reminds us that every event is entirely under His control. Nothing takes Him by surprise. Not even Satan has power to act apart from God allowing and even authorizing him to do so (cf. Job 1:8-12). As difficult as that is to comprehend (and it certainly isn't fully understandable to our finite minds), knowing that no one and no thing operates outside of the authority of God Almighty is a tremendously comforting thought. Regardless of what happens to our family, our finances, our health, our nation, and even our freedom, we are never outside of the providential hand of our sovereign Lord who is working all things together for the good of His children (Rom. 8:28). What a tremendous encouragement that should be to our fearful hearts!

1 comment:

Jim said...

Well said

May it not only comfort and encourage, may we be like Job and worship amidst the most difficult of trials (understatement of the year), He shaved his head, tore his robe, fell to the ground, and Worshipped. Declaring, Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return, The Lord Gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.