God Is Still In Control

I haven't posted anything recently. These last two weeks have been very unique for Suzanne and me. On October 31, I officially received word that due to continued financial difficulties, my position at Two Rivers was being eliminated. So, what that means is that tonight will be the last time that I lead a rehearsal with the choir at TRBC. God is so good to me, though. He has allowed me and my family to experience His presence in a unique way with a band of brothers here. We have been encouraged with many eternal friendships. These are the friends who have, and continue to point Suzanne and I back toward what is eternal and unseen. This has been a gracious gift from our Father and we praise Him. Although we are uncertain of what our next assignment will be, He is already there. I came across this article today and I think it is extremely timely and relevant. As the old TRUTH song says, "Take heart and know God is in control."

~Jon


God Is Still in Control
Barbara Rainey


“These are times that try men’s souls.” Thomas Paine, 1776.

These past weeks we have been dealt an economic blow most of us were not expecting. And it is spreading around the globe, threatening every nation. It seems impossible to lock out the incessant reports of bad news from the media. It seeps into our thinking and leads us to depression and discouragement. The result is often fear, panic, and inaction. We feel helpless under the assault of all that seems so bad. Our normal routine has been upset.


All of us feel these trying times. Dennis and I are watching investments fall and donations to FamilyLife drop dramatically. We are thinking hard about how and where to cut spending both personally and at work.

But do we forget in our fearful response to bad news that God is still in control? This has not caught Him by surprise. He knew it was coming just as He knows all that is yet to happen.
And not only does He know, but is it possible that He caused it or allowed it for our good? “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” Job 2:10


Is it possible that He in His sovereign will and providence wants us to learn new wonders about Himself as we are forced to trust Him in ways we never have? Might He want us to have the joy of seeing Him provide in ways we did not expect?

One of my favorite heroines of the faith is Corrie ten Boom who, with her father and sister, hid Jews in their home during World War II because they believed God wanted them to preserve life. And how did God reward them for doing these deeds of courage and sacrifice and love? He allowed them to be hauled off to Ravensbrook concentration camp in Germany to experience depravity and a depth of suffering none of us knows. It was far worse than our current economic crisis. And yet in the midst of that suffering they experienced miracles of God’s presence, His provision, His grace and mercy, and love and forgiveness in ways not possible in the comfort of their ordinary lives.


God is always more concerned about our character than our comfort, our faith than our feelings, and our love for Him rather than our love for things. God is not afraid to use a little pain or even a lot of pain so that we might have the privilege of knowing Him and seeing Him at work.

Romans 8:28 tells us that “all things work together for good to those who love God and who are called according to His purpose.” May we remember He always has our good in mind. And may we, in our response to this present difficulty, be like Job about whom the Bible says in Job 2:10, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” It is good to give thanks to our God.