Who Is In Control?

In our everyday lives many of us don’t even think about how we use our bodily functions. From minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day we use our hands, feet, we breathe, listen, taste and smell. Most of us have the confidence that these functions will keep working the way they normally do. We don’t live our lives in consistent fear or fret that something will go wrong or how sufficiently everything operates. If we do then we are living our lives in a fanatic state. There are situations in life that will surprise and shock us. One day we will experience a mishap and possibly a loss of function all together. This is how life can be when you have other losses and things around you start to fall apart or go terribly wrong. During these times we may try to take control or act as if we are in control, yet everything seems to be totally out of control!

Just this week I lost a cousin through a drowning in Lake of the Woods in Ontario. This news was shocking and so very sad. Gary was only 52 years old. Yes, I know, you may have lost someone in your own life or you may have had other losses. We all experience losses in our lives at one point or other and the thing is, at least in most cases, we have no control over these situations. We can’t stop them or even know prior that they will happen. In these kinds of circumstances there are people who get angry and bitter, particularly toward God. In my life I usually hope that things will run smoothly and work out according to the plans and vision I have, but that doesn’t always mean that it will work out that way. This week I was hoping to catch up after a trip away but hearing this news about my cousin completely changed the dynamics of my week. It has in fact been somewhat stressful with other unexpected changes added to the already transformed week.

So who’s in control? Is God in control of everything? These may be hard words for some of you, but yes. God is in control of all things. He works out everything in conformity with the plan and purpose of His own will. God is working out His calling into one body, the church, men and women of every nation and people saved through His son Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:2-11) God, not chance, decides what happens in the human affairs of this world (Proverbs 16:33, Jonah 1:7) He can shorten life or strengthen it. He can give or take away. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15). All natural forces are in His control (Psalm 29:3-10).

The verse which we sometimes find hard to hear or even have a difficulty sharing when others are going through tough times is Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” God’s thoughts are not ours and neither are His ways. (Isaiah 55:8-11). Nothing can give us more strength and confidence like an understanding of the “sovereignty” of God in our lives. God’s “sovereignty” is defined as His complete control over every creature, event and circumstance at every moment of history, and it’s all for His purpose.

Satan, God’s fallen angel who wanted to be like God is out to deceive, destroy and thwart the plans of God and yet God allows him to use his limited power. Satan uses his power for evil but God uses His for good. It is only through the freedom of choice and faith in God that we can know and trust that He wants the best for us and allow Him to take control of our own lives.