Who Is Really In Charge Here?

It seems like there are periods in our lives when trouble just comes in buckets. This can be especially frustrating to those of us who want to be in control-and don't want any surprises in life-especially the bad kind. It doesn't take too long on the road of life for us to understand it does not work that way.

Whether you are a Christian or a non -Christian-whether you are rich or poor-it makes no difference. We have very little control over what is happening in our lives sometimes. This is especially true when it comes to illness-accidents-or sudden reverses in finances. We just can't stop bad things from happening. Christians can pray and God will hear-but He may not answer our prayers the way we wanted-our pressure and misery may not be relieved(in the time or the way that we desired).

I have come to love Job and his discoveries about God in the deep trouble that God sent his way. I love too the example of the Apostle Paul-God said that Paul would suffer much for His sake-and he certainly did. These are just 2 examples of men in the Bible who suffered greatly-held on to God-and did not sin in the midst of it all. I have to remind myself often-that God and God alone is fit to take the Universe's throne-I am unfit to rule even my own little portion of the world.

In the end I am more than happy to relinquish what I never had in the first place(control of my life circumstances) to the One who is Lord-Savior-and Father. One thing we can know for sure-the Judge of all the earth will do right-because the believer is in the hands of love. No matter how dark the path may seem at certain times-we can rest assured that tender mercy and loving-kindness surround us. The One who cannot lie has promised-and He is Himself our treasure and our reward.

I have been thinking about this because my hubby's 85 year old mother has cancer and must undergo surgery this week. This has happened within 2 years of her losing 2 of her 3 daughters(my sisters-in law) to breast cancer. My husband's health is poor and stress is bad for his heart(he has Congestive Heart Failure). I could gripe and mope and complain -but it wouldn't help. What helps are the promises of God that cannot fail. I can rest in Him and trust him to keep what I have committed to Him. The Word of God is the cure for every doubt-every fear-and every worry that we have. That my soul knows very well!

In closing I will quote a few verses of a great Psalm-after all the Word of God is what we need to give one another-when trouble comes.

 Ps 30:1-5
0 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5  For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
 Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
ESV