God is In Control

In that age old conflict between Job and his friends they go back and forth--the friends accusing Job of wickedness and Job maintaining his innocence. In Chapter 23 Job makes one of many profound statements in the book--"For He performs what is appointed for me. And many such decrees are with Him. Therefore, I would be dismayed at His presence; When I consider, I am terrified of Him" (vss.14-15). After he has lost everything, suffered immeasurably, endured the biting criticism of his friends, and been prone to demand an audience with God to defend himself we find Job articulating some profound theology. God is in Control, absolutely sovereign over everything that happens in our lives. This is not too difficult to say (though we are prone to forget it) when things are going well--good commodity prices, our job is going well, no major conflicts in the family, our children are staying out of trouble, we are in good health, the stock market is strong, and life is generally good. But throw in some adversity (in Job's case some serious adversity) and our commitment to the truth that "He performs what is appointed for me..." may waiver. Are we seriously able to truthfully proclaim that even the most difficult adversity is from the hand of God?

We have some dear ministry partners--nationals from another country--doing church planting in a difficult ministry. At the funeral of the wife's father, which was taking place yesterday, the husband's father fell over short of breath and died. Sorrow upon Sorrow. Excruciating pain compounded, multiplied, increased seemingly beyond hope. Yet faith calls us to be sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. It calls us to trust that God is indeed Good and Great. He really does know what He is doing--"When we don't understand and we can't trace His hand, trust His heart." Those words sound nice and even right when life is not so tough, but only by God's Amazing Grace will they not sound hollow and empty when we face tragedy. God really is working for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

I just pray that I will draw upon His grace and strength to bring Him glory in the face of difficulty, tragedy, and adversity. I think of Paul's words in Philippians 1:20--"...according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I may not be put to shame in anything; but Christ may now, even as always, be exalted in my body whether in life or in death."