![]() Recently I read an article by Cameron Cole, that really caught my interest. It is titled "Don't Let Go of God's Sovereignty Over Your Worst." In his article he challenges the idea that God has nothing to do with the tragic and sorrowful events in our lives. Now, I have always believed that God is working in my life, through the bad and the good; the joy and the pain; the love and the loss. But many do not. We hear it all the time, "Don't blame God." or, "God had nothing to do with it." or even this, "God didn't do it. You are suffering the consequences of your own actions." But with these beliefs comes the idea that God is not sovereign; that He does not have supreme power over all. I assure you, He does. Sovereign for Job and Jonah: Do you remember the story of Job? Who initiated the conversation that led to Job's suffering? It was not Satan. Who gave His permission for Satan to afflict Job? The answer: God. God drew Satan's attention to Job. God gave Satan permission to vex Job. Not only did God have something to do with Job's suffering - He started it! But here is the comforting part - God set limits. He restricted Satan on what he was allowed to do. That devil could not do anything God did not allow. God also has sovereignty in our lives. Nothing happens that He does not allow. Yes, sometimes we do stupid things, go a different direction than God wants, and suffer the consequences, like Jonah. But God is in that, too. God caused the storm that resulted in Jonah being thrown overboard. God sent the whale that swallowed him whole. And God told the whale when to spit him up. There are times, in life, when we, like Job, live righteously, but still suffer. It has nothing to do with us; it has nothing to do with our behavior; it has nothing to do with our loved ones. It simply, from our perspective, happens. We may never know why. God never explained His reasons to Job. ![]() Sovereign for me: Sometimes, bad things happen to us that don't make sense in the moment, but, in retrospect, we can see God's hand in it. In fact, if God had not been sovereign in the hurt I experienced as a teen, then I am in the wrong place. I will not divulge the details of the story for the sake of others involved. However, there are two reasons I believe God was sovereign in that situation:
Sovereign for you (conclusion): God was sovereign in the life of Job and He was sovereign in the life of Jonah. God is sovereign in my life and God is sovereign in yours. No. Matter. What. Cole says, "If God is not fully sovereign in your suffering, then you cannot trust that he is fully in control of your healing and recovery." Through the happiness, God is sovereign and He is good. Through the sorrow, God is sovereign and He is good. God is sovereign all the time; God is good all the time. Bibliography Cameron Cole (MA, Wake Forest University), https://www.crossway.org/articles/dont-let-go-of-gods-sovereignty-over-your-worst/ What questions, concerns, or comments do you have? I would love to hear from you in the comment section or by email. You can reach me at [email protected]. If you like this post or found it helpful, please share it so it can help others as well. If you would like to receive updates when I write new posts, please join my Facebook page.
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AuthorKayti grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Hobe Sound Bible College in Hobe Sound, Florida, graduating 2013. She taught four years at a private Christian school on the west side of Indianapolis. She also coached a girls volleyball team for two years. She is now a full-time caregiver for her wonderful grandmother, Ruth. Archives
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