The present time has made it abundantly clear that we are not in control. James puts it like this (James 4v13-15):
13 Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’
Apparently there is an old Jewish proverb “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans”!
We are not in control. But this is good news.
Three steps that we need to grasp are:
Perception.
I am not in control. One of the very striking things at present is how frustrated the most powerful men and women in our world are getting – because the illusion they are in control has been shattered. I am not in control, nor are you, nor are they. But God is in control.
Persuasion.
God is good. It is wonderful news that God is in control, not you or I or anyone else on our planet. Because God is good and we are not. I am not, you are not, world leaders are not. But God is.
Peace.
I am not in control. God is. God is good. This is the best possible state of affairs. I can rest in peace.
I have found a delightful hymn on this theme: “Whate’er my God ordains is right”. It is one of those “old hymns to a new tune”. I hope you enjoy it and pray you are helped by it as much as I have been.
Tim
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