Sometimes our lives turn upside down for a season.
-An exciting pregnancy turns into a miscarriage.
-A routine check-up turns into a discovery of cancer.
-A typical car ride turns into a wreck that leaves you with broken bones.
-Or worse, a family member dies unexpectedly…
And we wonder – is God really in control of everything?
When storms hit and trials come into our lives, raw emotions bubble up under the surface and begin to overflow. We begin to ask God questions and we wonder…does he care? Does God love me? Is He in control?
After the attack of 9/11, churches were filled for weeks. People were drawn to God and looking for answers. The shock and horror led us to wonder…
Is God in control of everything?
Yes, a thousand times yes!
Every page of scripture points to a sovereign God – from the creation account in Genesis to the return of Christ in Revelation, our God is in complete control.
Job acknowledged God’s sovereignty in Job 1:21:
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord.
In Job 2:10, again Job affirms the sovereignty of God when he says to his wife:
Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?
But trusting God and acknowledging his sovereignty, when life hurts, is terribly difficult.
And so that brings us to Job chapters 38 and 39. These are some of my favorite chapters in the Bible because God Himself is speaking and He puts his power on display. It’s when I focus on God’s power that I can rest in his sovereignty. I find comfort in these words.
{I can’t post the entire passage here because of it’s length…but here’s a taste.}
God said:
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
~Job 38:4-7
“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war?
24 What is the way to the place where the light is distributed,
or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
~Job 38:22-24
“Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they crouch in their dens
or lie in wait in their thicket?
41 Who provides for the raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God for help,
and wander about for lack of food?
~Job 38:39-41
“Do you give the horse his might?
Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
20 Do you make him leap like the locust?
His majestic snorting is terrifying.
21 He paws in the valley and exults in his strength;
he goes out to meet the weapons.
22 He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
he does not turn back from the sword.
23 Upon him rattle the quiver,
the flashing spear, and the javelin.
24 With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground;
he cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
25 When the trumpet sounds, he says ‘Aha!’
He smells the battle from afar,
the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
~Job 39:19-25
God did not just create the heavens and the earth but he is continually sustaining the heavens and the earth. The book of Job not only reveals God’s sovereignty but also his power, might, grandeur, and wisdom.
There is no one like our God!
And so you may ask…the most difficult theological question anyone can ask:
Why does God allow evil?
Oh friends, I don’t want to pretend to fully understand the answer to this question. As a matter of fact, as I thought about how I would answer this – I grew fearful of giving a trite answer. I know some of you are dealing with incredibly painful situations.
Job had lost all of his children, all of his wealth and his health. He had repeatedly asked God, “Why?” and after many chapters of his friends giving him bad advice, God finally spoke.
When God spoke, He did not answer Job’s questions of “Why?” Instead, He reminded Job of how great, powerful, mighty and good He is. He put all of His sovereignty on display and in chapter 40, Job put his hand over his mouth and went silent.
When we truly see how powerful our God is, our questions are silenced – we can simply rest in Him.
God existed before the creation of the world. He brought the universe into existence. He is in control. It is through good and evil that we see his full character on display – his wrath, his justice, his deep love and mercy and grace. We would not understand the depth of the kindness and forgiveness of God if we were not being saved from our sins. Evil comes from Satan and the fall in the garden of Eden. We have all sinned. God has allowed evil so we can understand the magnitude of His love and that He might be glorified forever when in the end, He triumphs over evil.
God knows – it’s not answers to the questions of “why?” that we need.
It’s God that we need.
God IS the answer!
Whatever you are facing today – you can rest in God’s love and care for you. Your trial is meant to point you to God. Your suffering is meant to point you to God. Your losses are meant to point you to God. Why? Because God knows HE is your greatest need and when you have HIM – you can have peace and joy in the midst of your storm.
Our trials remind us, this world is not our home.
We are just passing through.
Our life is but a vapor – it’s short.
Eternity is FOREVER!
In the end, God triumphs over evil!
If you are tired of crying – take comfort in this: Revelation 21:4 tells us – in heaven there will be no more tears.
Keep trusting in our mighty God. He loves you so.
Walk with the King,
Courtney
After we finish our study in the book of Job, we will begin the Book of Mark on March 7th – it’s perfect to prepare our hearts for Easter! Invite your friends and join us!
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de vreze des Heeren, dat is wijsheid, en zich afkeren van het kwade is inzicht.
