Life seems to get harder everyday for some of us. It just seems like one thing after another. No end in sight. A lost job; your child is diagnosed with developmental delays; a close friend dies; plans fall through on a new loan. You can’t take much more. When will it end? What will happen next?

The enemy is laughing as he looks at the chaos he has created. He wants us off-balance, uncertain. He cherishes every look of panic and worry that crosses our face. He loves to pile grief on top of stress on top of pain; over and over again.

You may not realize it but every time the enemy wants to make a major move upon your life, he has to ask permission of God before making a move. Remember Job? Satan had to gain permission to first take away all that Job had and later, to harm Job’s body. What does that tell us?

For the Lord Most High is awesome;
He is a great King over all the earth.
God reigns over the nations;
God sits on His holy throne.

Psalm 47:2, 8

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In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind?

Job 12:10

First it reminds us that Satan is not all-powerful. Thank goodness. Second and more importantly is that God is in control. Total control. Even our own free will choices are made with His allowance. Technically, He could stop us at any time; but usually allows us to make our own decisions and choices; good or bad.

I have even called you by your name;
I have named you, though you have not known Me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other;
There is no God besides Me.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know

from the rising of the sun to its setting
That there is none besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things.’

Isaiah 45:4b-7

It’s a sobering thought, that the God we love and serve; the God we like to think about sheltering us, holding us close; the God we sing praises to and worship; is also the God who allows our child to die; allows us to lose our job of 13 years; allows cancer to ravage our body. Yes, this is our God and He is in control. He has His own purpose and plans and they don’t always match up with ours.

So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?

Exodus 4:11

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Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass,
When the Lord has not commanded it?
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That woe and well-being proceed?
Why should a living man complain…?

Lamentations 3:37-39b

God has His own plans and He answers to no man. It may be hard for us to accept and comprehend, but He does have only our good in mind and a purpose for everything. God’s word tell us that no matter what we face; God is with us. Through the joyous occasions and the most heart-wrenching ones; He is there. He never leaves.

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11

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For the Lord of hosts has purposed,
And who will annul it?
His hand is stretched out,
And who will turn it back?”

Isaiah 14:27

For reasons many times beyond our understanding, God chooses to let us go through times of trouble. Hard times. Sometimes enough to seem like we will go insane with the pain, the stress, the grief. It is just too much; too much for us to bear. But He knows what He is doing.

When we are experiencing the good times, it is easy to respond with thanks and praises to God. Yet when we are going through the horrific ordeals; the painful moments; the dark times; we should also be able to come to a point where we can give thanks to God in that situation. He is in control of that too. We aren’t thanking Him for it; we give thanks because He is the One in control and we acknowledge that He knows what He is doing and what is right for us.

In everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

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And we know that all things work together

for good to those who love God,

to those who are the called

according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

These verses we can accept through faith. Humanly they don’t always bring us comfort or understanding; especially right after a tragedy. But through our faith in God, we should come to a place where we can read those words and believe them.

We need to trust Him with our whole being; with our whole life. The good, the bad, the ugly and the awesome. He allows all of it for a purpose. We are to be faithful through both the good times and the bad.

“Do not be afraid; only believe.”

Mark 5:36b

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And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Do you have fear when you get a promotion or a new medication helps your health issue? Do you worry and stress when He provides a friend who can fix your car problem or a new doctor really seems to listen to you and believes what you tell him about your condition? If we don’t fear or worry about the good things when they happen, why should we when the bad happens? He is the same God for both. He cares for us the same in both circumstances.

And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

Luke 12:25-26

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But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful?

How is it that you have no faith?”

And they feared exceedingly,

and said to one another,

“Who can this be,

that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Mark 4:40-41

God’s love for us is always there. Our faith and trust in Him should always be there too. No matter if our world seems to be spinning out of control; He is still on the throne and in control. If we allow Him to guide us and accept His presence at our sides through all of it, we will get through it and our faith will have grown at the same time. We can trust Him in and through everything.

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

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…because as He is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love;

but perfect love casts out fear,

because fear involves torment.

But he who fears

has not been made perfect in love.

We love Him because He first loved us.

1 John 4:17b-19

Until next time, God bless.

~Brenda

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