Who Is Really In Charge?

Everything in heaven and earth is subject to God’s will.

Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.  Acts 4:24

Are We Really In Control?

Let me be honest I like to be in control.  It is the desire of my heart to live my life with the with the grand delusion that I am can determine the outcome of events. Give all the options before me ignoring the reality that I am not is control has worked. Allow me to live the fantasy that life will turn out just the way it is supposed to. That works fine until fantasy smacks head first into the wall of reality.  When that horrible day happens my world gets turned inside out, then I am faced with this jarring question, “Who is really in charge?”

God has a Plan-Trust in Him!

It doesn’t take long to learn the painful lesson that life is bigger than we are.  Try as we might control the things that happen around us, we soon discover it isn’t possible. That’s when we need to learn to be reminded that God is in charge. Wouldn’t life be much simpler and less complicated if we started there?  It is such a bumpier ride to get there through trials and failures. Just come to the realization that GOD IS GOD, and we are not.  He is in control of the daily operation of our lives.  Everything in all creation is subject to his will.  Stop and ponder that for a moment.  When we do, we realize that this truth is freeing.  It takes the pressure off of us.  Humanity is not in control.  We mere mortals can let go of the worry.  Since worry cannot change the end products nor the outcomes, let go of it all.  God has this.

Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart, a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”

The verse from Proverbs should provide us with comfort.  Our plans fail.  Our dreams do not always work out.  So how do we handle that failure?  Look to the one, God, who determines our steps.  Here is an illustration.

One who resided in the White House for four years with the family of Mr. Lincoln says that the great president once came into the room with slow and cumbersome step and sad countenances and threw himself upon a sofa, shading his eyes with his hands, a complete picture of dejection. Mrs. Lincoln observed his troubled look and asked,

“Where have you been, Father?”

“To the war department,” he answered.

“Any news?”

“Yes, plenty of news, but no good news. It is dark, dark everywhere.”

He then reached forth one of his long arms and took a small Bible from a stand near the head of the sofa, opened its pages, and was soon absorbed in reading them.

Fifteen minutes passed, and on glancing at the sofa his wife observed that the face of the president was more cheerful. His dejected expression was gone, and his countenance was lighted up with new resolution and hope. Wondering at the marked change, and desiring to know what book of the Bible had comforted Mr. Lincoln, she walked gently around the sofa and saw that he was reading that divine comforter, Job.—Prairie Overcomer[1]

What lesson does the Book of Job teach us? God reigns!  Nothing happens outside of God divine plan.  He will bring good into our lives even when everything is out of control! That is a great reminder in this election season.  Honestly, there are days I am afraid to turn the radio and television on.  I walk away just feeling dirty from all this.  At those moments when it seems like all is lost, the reminder that God has plans for us gives me comfort. He said this through the prophet Jeremiah.

+ Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.[2]

+ Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.[3]

God is always there reminding us that He has plans for us. He teaches us through each situation to trust Him.  He uses these trials to fully prepared and mature us as His people. Never lose sight of the fact that God is the one who is in charge.

[1]  Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (pp. 1647–1648). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Je 29:11). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 8:28). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.