Aug
30
2007
30
2007
A Sovereign God
Filed under: Following Jesus
I do not believe in being lucky or unlucky. Or in coincidences. I DO believe in a God that is sovereign and who knows all things and can control all things. He is in charge of the universe and yet still delights in me and the knows the details of my daily life. And if He knows those details AND He is in control, why would I waste one minute of my day worrying? Your life will be transformed when you can grasp this fully. It truly is amazing , and I don’t think our human minds can fathom His greatness.
I love to read the Psalms to be reminded of the characteristics of God…as the Psalmists pour out their love for Him. I long to understand whom I serve….and what I find is a loving, personal God who wants to be involved in every decision of our lives. He allows us to wake every morning…can He not handle the problems of our day?
John Piper had this to say in response to the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse and the sovereignty of God (see full response here):
“All of us have sinned against God, not just against man. This is an outrage ten thousand times worse than the collapse of the 35W bridge. That any human is breathing at this minute on this planet is sheer mercy from God. God makes the sun rise and the rain fall on those who do not treasure him above all else. He causes the heart to beat and the lungs to work for millions of people who deserve his wrath. This is a view of reality that desperately needs to be taught in our churches, so that we are prepared for the calamities of the world.”
Piper reminds us of our frail existence here on earth…and of a God who is POWERFUL beyond measure. Powerful, and yet He desires that none should perish. He has a gentle spirit. He longs speak with us all day. To be close to us. Isn’t it amazing how easy it is to forget who holds all things together? We walk away from His love and His plan so easily.
Elisabeth Elliot shares this:
I know of no greater simplifier for all of life. Whatever happens is assigned. Does the intellect balk at that? Can we say that there are things that happen to us that do not belong to our lovingly assigned “portion”(“This belongs to it, that does not”) Are some things, then, out of the control of the Almighty? Every assignment is measured and controlled for my eternal good. As I accept the given portion, other options are canceled. Decisions become much easier, directions clearer, and hence my heart becomes inexpressibly quieter. A quiet heart is content with what God gives.
Are some things, then, out of the control of the Almighty? No! So why do we act as if they are? In every circumstance, God’s purpose can be found…although it may take years or even a lifetime. It’s ok to question God when you are in a difficult, painful situations…but we must never doubt His purpose in it and His desire to be glorified through it.
If you have never read the blog “Especially Heather”, you need to start. I have been reading Heather’s response to her brain cancer since she was diagnosed…and I am encouraged daily by this amazing woman’s understanding that God is sovereign. She is continually blessing others with her wisdom and giving God glory, despite the incredible pain she is going through right now. She has recently posted a couple of videos/lyrics that have really made me think about what it means to give God glory in ALL things. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did (the titles link to the videos).
Bring The Rain
MercyMe
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that
I’ve gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in YouMaybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It’s never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I prayBring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings
You glory And I know there’ll
be days When this life brings me pain
But if that’s what it takes to
praise You Jesus, bring the rainI am yours regardless of the clouds that may
loom above because you are much greater than
my pain you who made a way for me suffering
your destiny so tell me whats a little rain
And one of my favorites…
great is the Lord, so worthy of praise
great is the Lordone generation will
commend Your kingdom
to one another
they will speak of You
and i will meditate
on Your wonder
and they, they will speak
of Your glorious splendor
of Your majesty
everyday i’ll praise thee
forever and evereveryday i will praise
for You open Your hand
and satisfy desires of all things
my God the Kingthe Lord is gracious
and slow to anger
He is rich in love
He is good to allall who call on Him
in truth He is near to
and He hears their cry
and saves them
Posted by Sara @ 12:03 am | Leave a Comment
30
2007
Thanks for raising the big question all world religions need to answer: why do bad things happen to good people? And the related question: if God is all-powerful, why is there evil in the world?
I think the presumption has to be that human beings deserve God’s love and not that they deserve God’s wrath. There is plenty of support for this idea in Scripture, Piper’s words notwithstanding.
In this sense, contemporary Jewish theology is more in tune with the teachings of the great Jewish reformer, Jesus, than with the angry, vengeful Old Testament God.
In the Reform Jewish tradition, God is the Source of all Life, the creator who gave us free will and lets us have at it.
This view places the blame for the 35W bridge collapse on foolish choices by human beings responsible for maintaining it. To me, this makes more sense than God making a deliberate choice to bring this or that bridge crashing down on a bunch of unworthy humans.
30
2007
Thanks for posting this today, Sara. I needed to read this tonight. I was struggling to hold onto this truth today. What a God we serve, indeed! To be loved so deeply no matter what. To rest on his arms and in his sovereignty. To be at peace and not need to worry. Praise the Lord!
30
2007
Oh, Sara, what a wonderful, wonderful, encouraging post. Thank you.
30
2007
So good! Speak it, sister! We need the gospel preached to our hearts this and every day.
I love that Shane & Shane song. I listened to it the day my grandmother died a few years ago and read Psalm 145 over her casket before the funeral with my family standing around my shoulders. Such rich power is found in that passage!
My baby girl has been sick for 3 days now, and yesterday I sat in the floor (while the other 2 were tearing up the upstairs bedrooms!) and held her in my arms. She was like a poor rag doll, pale and limp. I read 3-4 Psalms over her and felt much comfort. It was so sweet, too, after I finished reading about the power and unfailing love of God for those who wait on Him, she sat up and smiled and started jabbering (before going right back to sleep). I think she was just responding to those words!!
I know you have so much preparing this month, and I pray that you know the intimacy and strength of the joy of the Lord just as you posted today!
30
2007
Laurie B – I just reread your comment, and I mean all respect and no offence, but I would lovingly challenge you to seek the Scriptures with the questions in mind, “Is God’s love the same as man’s love?” “Can God allow humans to suffer harsh consequences from their decisions and still be 100% sovereign and loving?” “When God says in the Scriptures that He is the One who sent His Son Jesus to the cross to die (placing the ‘blame’ on Himself), does that make him foolish or unloving?” I respectfully challenge you to approach the Lord with the humility that accepts whatever he does as right and good and loving although it may not make any sense.
I do mean all respect and just wanted to challenge those thoughts to think on further. Sorry for hogging all your comment space, Sara! I don’t usually leave long comments, but this was such a wonderful post!
30
2007
What a great post Sara. Great minds think alike, I just posted a similar post relating to God’s purposes. It’s on my mind, as I am not always happy about my life’s circumstances. *smile*
I have never read Heather’s blog, but I hear about it all the time. I do love that Mercy Me song. Thanks for sharing.
30
2007
Great post
It’s so common to hear from people that they just don’t understand why all these bad things happen to good people. I often think it should be the other way around…why do good things happen to bad people?
This is why I love the new Caedmon’s song Sacred…the line that says…
“my cup runneth over
and i worry about the stain
teach me to run to You
like they run to me for every little thing”
We are so self-dependent, that we see running to anyone for anything as a weakness. Instead of pretending to be strong, it’s a good reminder to turn to God for all things.
30
2007
Thanks for this great reminder. I’ve been learning about Him a lot in the last few weeks and am constantly reminded of the worship and praise that is due to Him.
30
2007
Thank you for this wonderful post. I always resolve to not worry about things—everything from the ‘what ifs’ to projects that I am working on—but I never know when to let go of something. When do you decide enough is enough on your part, and then turn it over to God? I worry about not worrying enough!
–Cee–
30
2007
I couldn’t respectfully disagree more!
I can’t imagine God causing bad things to happen in our life! I can’t worship a God who would purposely cause a bridge to fall to prove a lesson. Or give someone cancer. I look at the world and see war, sickness, poverty, destruction, death. I can’t give praise to a God who has ‘controlled’ all of these horrific things. God does not control 30,000 children to die every day from unclean drinking water. What kind of loving God would do that?
I think this is a very, very dangerous solution to the problem of evil because ultimately, it means God is the source of the evil!
The ultimate force in the universe is LOVE. God willingly gives up a portion of his control to allow for geniune love. Without choice there is no love. But with choice comes the ability to choose evil.
The NT teaches us that Satan is the ruler of this world, he is in control of this era. He offers Jesus power over the world – why would this be a temptation to Him if it was already His?? Satan and his demons are active and have some amount of power and control about what happens.
But we can rejoice, for what Satan intends for evil, God uses for good. He makes beautiful what Satan tries to kill and destroy. We are to be involved in this process too. God is an artist, a creator, and he wants us to create a beautiful future along with Him. We practice resurrection where there is death.
Most importantly, God wins in the end!
30
2007
What a great reminder, Sara. Thanks for sharing.
30
2007
Thanks for the reminder. Thanks also for passing along the link to that woman’s blog.
30
2007
Beautiful post!!
30
2007
Thanks for another beautiful post Sara! I hope RV life is going well!!!
Melanie
31
2007
I am happy to have found your blog.
31
2007
I’m sorry to Jake (and Sara because her blog space is such a place of joy) to seem to be reaching for an argument, but I promise that is not my intention. Jake, I disagree with most of what you said, and I think it needs to be addressed. Since you put those words here for others to read, I thought it should be addressed here for others reading. The main reason I disagree is because God does not teach in His Word that he is ever out of control. How terrifying it would be for us to trust a God who leaves some things out of his grasp and control. Further, if there is a greater power than God, then how (logically) does he win in the end?
May I encourage you to read some of the following if you have not before?
topic index >>> the sovereignty of God
I don’t enjoy getting into debates (especially not face-to-face), but I feel this issue of God’s completesovereignty is extremely vital for us to grasp. If we don’t, we will be “tossed to and fro by every wind” of doctrine, and it will effect our every thinking about who is the ultimate (final) in our worship –man, or God. According to the Bible God intends His glory and our happiness as an outcome of worshiping Him more than anything/anyone else. I hope you can see that this is really a wonderful, loving thing!
31
2007
Sara,
I’ve been lurking here for a while, but this finally brought me out. You have such a fascinating and interesting blog, and I love how you live in submission to God and according to your principles. Awesome!
Our Almighty God IS sovereign. We live in a fallen world. Some people struggle to see how He could allow pain and suffering in this world. Here are some ways that I have been able to make sense of this:
1. His ways are not my ways. I am glad I am not in charge of the world!
2. If there was no suffering, how would we ever be able to appreciate his mercy? Any suffering that we experience here is nothing compared to what Jesus suffered on the cross. And this He willingly endured for our sake. Praise God!
3. All suffering glorifies God, in that it points us to a place where there is no suffering, and every tear will be wiped away.
We choose how we look at this and by God’s grace alone we are able to see his hand in all things.
That’s my two cents. Thanks for letting me comment!
31
2007
This is for Kristi. I am sure Jake can speak for himself, but it seems to me that you misunderstood what he was saying.
I recommend this interview with Elizabeth Edwards that appeared in Newsweek a few months ago. She explained why she is not praying for God to cure her cancer:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17889146/site/newsweek/
She talks about her crisis in faith after her son Wade was killed in a car accident. One thing she learned (which is a point John Piper makes in the piece Sara linked to above) is that any of us could die any day, and we shouldn’t put off the good things we are planning to do “someday.”
She goes on to explain how her came to believe that God does not intervene to cause everything that happens to every person every day:
As I said, Jake can speak for himself, but this idea of God who promises salvation and enlightenment, but does NOT necessarily intervene to cause car accidents, bridge collapses and so on, seems consistent with the idea of God “winning in the end.”
The problem with Piper’s explanation, it seems to me, is that people responsible for errors with devastating consequences (such as the 35W bridge collapse) might think, “Well, God is sovereign, and I’m sure he made that bridge fall for a reason, because He could have easily held it up if He’d wanted to.”
The idea that “God wouldn’t let this happen without a reason” could distract us from searching for the human causes of the tragedy and ways to prevent similar tragedies elsewhere.
31
2007
Wow! I love these posts that jump out at me and evoke a strong response. Sara, I read your blog faithfully, and most of the time feel like a cyber-kindred spirit, but I’m with Jake on this one… I couldn’t (respectfully) disagree more! I cannot worship a God who *causes* these horrible things to happen. The scriptures talk about “the powers of this world,” and I see those powers at work every day. I also see God’s sovereignty at work as he is able to “work all things for the good of those who love him.” I worship a God who desires a loving relationship with his creation, and that requires freedom to respond to him of our own accord.
Thanks, Sara, for making me think and for prompting this good discussion!
2
2007
>>if God is all-powerful, why is there evil in the world?
Well, for one thing, God has rules. In some religious sects, God decides the rules and can change them. Christianity is NOT one of these. Christian theologians noticed a long time ago that God Himself abides by the rules.
So if someone does something, or doesn’t do something, that results in harm to himself or to others, those consequences are not going to go away.
The best you can do is learn the rules. There are rules of physics, engineering, law, economics, medicine, personal relationships, etc.
4
2007
AMEN! We are learning to really live by realizing our God is completely sovereign. Our kids teach us this every day as they live with cancer and manage to bring God glory doing it. You and Matt inspire us too!
9
2007
god IS sovereign. amen. a good post.
13
2007
Well said, Sara! I wish everyone–even many Christians–knew and truly believed in God’s sovereignty in EVERYTHING. I know people who hate it when I suggest that God lets things happen to us (even when the reason is to grow us). I rejoice in adversity (as much as I can, lol) because I know it means the Lord is working in me. God bless you!
5
2010
Just what I was looking to see today! I want you to know I don’t take this stuff for granted. Nothing could have made my day more. Any chance I could contribute to this? That would make my day. I love leaving comments for others. Also visited some of your sponsors, good stuff. I hope you visit my site about Christmas Gifts sometime soon and return the favor. Have a most excellent day.