Trusting God, Part 3

Chapter 3: The Sovereignty of God
If there is a single event in all of the universe that can occur outside of God's sovereign control then we cannot trust Him even if His love and wisdom were infinite -- but this isn't the case. Not a single event, anywhere, can occur outside of God's control. God permits, for reasons known only to Himself, people to act contrary to and in defiance of His revealed will. But He never permits them to act contrary to His sovereign will. We make plans but those plans can only succeed when the are consistent with God's purpose.

There are numerous verses that suggest this. Some of them include:
"In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps" - Proverbs 16:9
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" - Proverbs 19:21
"There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord" - Proverbs 21:30
"Consider what God has done: who can straighten what he has made crooked" - Ecclesiastes 7:13
"Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?" - Lamentations 3:37
"If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that" - James 4:15
"What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open" - Revelation 3:7
"I make know the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: my purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please" - Isaiah 46:10
"All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to Him: "What have you done?" - Daniel 4:35
"In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will" - Ephesians 1:11

We might not always see God working in a particular situation. God usually works 'behind the scenes' through ordinary circumstances and ordinary actions of people. We may perceive God performing miracles as doctors routinely doing their job. Jerry says: "for the wisdom of man cannot see how the providence of God can arrange human actions to fulfill His purpose without any miracle." None of us knows of such events in our lives (perhaps hundreds) when we have been spared from adversity or tragedy. It is difficult for us to appreciate the reality of God working in our lives because we don't "see" God doing anything. We must learn to live "by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7)

In the midst of our pain/suffering we must believe/know that God is not only in control but working for our good. Romans 8:28 says "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." God has a purpose for all of us. God also has the power to carry out that plan. God's overarching purpose for all believers is to conform us to the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:29). He also has a unique purpose for each of us (Ephesians 2:10).

When times are good, be happy and give thanks to God. When times are bad, consider: Isaiah 45:7 where God says "I form the light and create the darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I the Lord, do all these things". Or Lamentations 3:30 that says "Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?"

Trusting in God does not mean that we won't suffer, grieve, or our hearts will not ache. Rather, it allows us to say: "Lord, I know You were in control of this dreadful event. I do not understand why you allowed it to happen, but I trust you."

Trusting God is not a matter of our feelings. Trusting God is a matter of our will. We never feel like trusting God when adversity strikes, but we must choose to do so even when we don't feel like it. We must choose to trust God based on the belief of the truth that God is sovereign. While we often first try to focus on our own feelings. Our priority in times of adversity should be to honor and glorify God by trusting Him.