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God Is Sovereign in Our Suffering

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By Bill Naron

God’s sovereignty is very weighty, and at times it can be difficult to rationalize with our emotions and hard to reason within our thoughts. We find that in the good times we can rejoice in the truth of His sovereignty. However, in seasons of suffering, the reality of this truth can be so hard to grasp.

All throughout the Scriptures, we can find references to God’s supremacy. For example, the first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” This speaks to God’s supremacy by showing us He is above and before all things.

Growing up in church, I have heard this concept preached so many times. However, over the last couple of weeks, this has been impressed more heavily upon my soul as something that I have just not grasped fully. It has begun to stir up a passion within me that is difficult to contain. Then, in my morning devotions today, I read the following verse:

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

During the sermon on Sunday, a couple of statements really caught my attention. One of them communicated that Rich and Marla knew no matter what the outcome was, God was still God, and He still had a plan and a purpose. The second statement was when Rich described rejoicing when they found out what had caused Marla to collapse originally.

I thought of these statements as I read through this verse from my devotions this morning. I thought about what an inspiration and a blessing it is to be part of a community that has so many stories of people such as Rich and Marla, who came on hard times and yet saw the sovereignty of God in their situations. This is such a great encouragement to the rest of us who have difficulty seeing this.

I have been wrestling with the idea of God’s supremacy in all of life—not just in good times, but in suffering as well. I have had to reflect on difficulties and sufferings that have happened in my own life.

I think about my son who was diagnosed with mild Dandy-Walker variant. This is a very rare condition that affects his cerebellum. While he looks and acts much like any other three-year-old, there are a lot of unknowns for him as he ages. He has overcome so many things already, from struggling with stiff muscles as a baby to balance issues as a toddler. Every milestone he has hit and exceeded what seemed to be the expectation.

As I reflect on this, I see truly the hand of God in my son Jasher’s situation, and I can see how God is glorified. At first the answers came so slowly, and there are still a lot of unknowns, but God is still God. I can see how this experience was used to bring my wife and me closer to our Father. In the storms, when we are at our weakest, when our fear of the unknown has gripped us, when we can’t see how God is present, we do not in the moment always see that there is a plan and a purpose.

The truth of Scripture, though, is that God always has a purpose for the things that happen in our lives. He cares for us, and nothing happens in this world without God knowing about it. God is never caught off guard!

In our suffering, are we going to live in the truth and perspective that God is sovereign? Knowing that God could make it so that we never suffered, are we going to trust that God is God and has a purpose for allowing this suffering to enter our lives?

God’s grace is what is sufficient, and it is not by my own strength that I live this life, but it is because of Him that we live. The purpose for our suffering is that we would grow more satisfied in the person of Jesus. That in our suffering we would choose to surrender to God and choose to say, “God, You are still God, no matter the outcome of my situation.” This is how we glorify our Father in the midst of our suffering: by relying solely on Him.

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All Things

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By Larry Short

Lately I’ve been thinking about, and discussing, and quoting, Romans 8:28 a lot. As a result, it’s one of those key verses that I never intentionally memorized, but that I can now quote by heart:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

The great thing about this verse is that it’s all God, and it’s one of those truths that really does require an investment of faith from us. In the face of seemingly impossible odds, we simply have to accept its truth on faith! God said it, and we have to either believe it—or not.

I think this was demonstrated dramatically during last week’s worship service, when Jacoby and Gretchen Miles shared their incredible journey. Many tears (mine included!) were shed.

I don’t know about you, but the thought of breaking my neck and being paralyzed is one of those things that is simply too horrible to fathom. Roger asked the question that has burned in my heart for years: How can we approach Jacoby and interact with her as we know we should, in light of her devastating disability? I’ve often thought about simply walking up and saying, “Hi Jacoby! I hope you know we care about and are praying for you . . .” But one of my fears is that my fear itself would show on my face and I wouldn’t be able to push back the dread (not at Jacoby—I think she’s beautiful and fantastic—but at the mere thought of her terrible paralysis) that has been for me a thing of nightmares.

And so I think it was very healthy and helpful for me to hear from her lips (and Gretchen’s) both their very transparent struggles to trust God and the victory that they have experienced as they have done so. It gives me hope that if I, too, were to experience such a dreadful event, God through His Holy Spirit would invade my heart (as He has Jacoby’s and her family’s) and, if I was willing, direct my gaze heavenward to our amazing eternal hope, giving me the strength to endure the lot that is mine today.

After Sunday, tears flowed anew when someone shared with me the thought that someday, either in this life or the next, we will see Jacoby dance again! But one thing we know today is that Jacoby and her family love God and are called according to His purpose, just as we are, and, therefore, even this time of trial must somehow be “one of those things” that is working together for good.

In the (far, far less significant) trials and tribulations that I have experienced in my own life, I have had the power of Romans 8:28 reinforced to me time and time again:

  • When as a teen I had to move away from my schoolmates and the hometown I loved because of a threat against our family, only to discover (on visiting a new church) a beautiful and godly girl named Darlene.
  • When as a businessman in my 20s a thief broke in and stole our equipment. Later he found Christ and turned himself in, and the insurance company (which had paid off the loss) sold the equipment back to me at a tenth of its value.
  • When I later sold the business because of struggles beyond my control. God led me (grudgingly) back to World Vision after that, where He blessed and used me in ways I could never have imagined.
  • When, a little over two years ago, I was laid off (after 24 years) from the organization I loved working for, only to be rehired a year later into a role that is a much better fit for me.

I realize that we often use Romans 8:28 in a seemingly trite way—“Chin up! The pain you’re experiencing is all for the good.” One woman asked me, “So how do you define the ‘good’ in this verse?” That coworker had experienced the incredibly painful murder of her grandmother and admitted she struggled with this verse.

I don’t want to imply by my examples above that the evil things that happen to us are always good for us! In fact, this verse doesn’t even say “work together for your good” or “our good”—it simply says, “work together for good.” The implication is that the ultimate good is the glory of God and His Kingdom. And hope tells us that even if we don’t see the good during our life on earth, someday, sitting around the table at the wedding feast of the Lamb, perhaps, all will become clear.

There’s a colleague at my new job whom I at first had some trouble getting along with. So rather than distance myself, I decided the Lord would have me reach out to him and try to build bridges. I spent some time with him hiking through the countryside near London, and I even took him and two of his kids camping in our RV two weekends ago! (Now THAT’S togetherness.) And now I am growing to appreciate his wisdom and friendship, despite our rough start.

We were talking about Romans 8:28 while walking through the rain forest, watching his kids delight in finding weird mushrooms. He brought up a favorite quote by C. S. Lewis (from “The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses”). At first I don’t think I really saw the connection, but the more I think about it, the more I do now:

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

Like that child making mud pies, my tendency is to throw a tantrum when my Father in Heaven says, “Hey, stop playing in that puddle. I have something far better for you over here.” Sometimes He does that through trials and tribulations. All I can see is what a lovely mud pie I have here. But if I am able to lift my eyes, in faith, there is an entire ocean waiting for me to take delight in!

On Monday morning, while hiking in the forest, I lost my wallet. I spent three hours looking for it and praying that I’d find it, all (seemingly) to no avail. Afterward I grumbled to the Lord: “How could losing my wallet possibly work out for good?! Think of all the time I’ll have to waste reapplying for permits and credit cards, etc.”

God’s reply? “Romans 8:28. Believe it.”

Sheesh. Okay, Lord, if You say so. I believe it.

(Stay tuned. I’ll let you know how it works out!)

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There’s More!

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By Martin Schlomer

Last Sunday, we looked at the first part of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:16-17, where he prays:

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, SO THAT you may KNOW Him BETTER. (NIV)

Paul’s point is that there is more!

Do you want more? Any relationship that doesn’t grow over time will stagnate and fade away. The relationship that started with connection and joy will stagnate and fade away. Passion becomes duty. This can happen with our relationship with our Father. This is why Paul says there’s more!

Was Paul’s prayer for these friends answered? Did they ever experience more? Yes, they did! However, as we all know, relationships are fragile! Over time, passion turned to duty. Twenty-five years after Paul wrote this letter, Jesus told the Ephesians the following:

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: …. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:1-5)

How did this happen? We don’t know. We only know that it happened. They lost sight that there was more. How do we pursue more? This question has many layers. I offer the following to help you move forward in this relationship.

First, grab a friend and pray together. Ask our Father to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better. Don’t stop! Keep asking. Our Father is deeply interested in those who are serious about what they want and not simply casual in their approach.

Second, sit down with several people you respect and work through the following questions. These people can be those from your small group, a mentor, or a close friend you’ve known for years. Here are the questions:

  • How has your relationship with God—how you experience Him—changed over the years?
  • What means has He used to grow this relationship?
  • Are there specific experiences you can share and lessons you learned?
  • What advice would you give to those who are early in their journey?

This journey must be a priority! As I said last Sunday, let’s walk this out together!

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Taking Time

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by Brian Waple

 For our 40th wedding anniversary, Cindy and I had the opportunity to take a cruise to Hawaii. Prior to arriving in Hawaii, we spent five days crossing the Pacific Ocean. During our crossing, I had a lot of time to think about God, the immense complexity of His creation, and how this affects my response to Him. The following are three reflections I wrote during those days on the water:

“I was reading a devotion by Henri Nouwen this morning in which he spoke of how all created things point to God. Waking up this first morning and seeing the waves, feeling the tossing of our ship, made me think of the disciples in the boat on the Sea of Galilee when the storm came up and tossed their little fishing boat around. Just like the disciples, seeing the waves creates a sense of helplessness and loss of control, and it reminds me how very small I am and how very little control I have in this very big world. Being able to see and feel the force of the water and understanding that God created the natural forces that cause these unrelenting waves makes me appreciate and respect God’s creation that much more.

“But, looking up and seeing the sunshine and blue sky and white clouds (which God also created) represents (in my mind) a peace (God’s peace) and calm to the contrast of the turmoil going on in the water below. The Pacific Ocean is vast, but it is only one of several oceans, and the sky above surrounds them all. The lesson for me in this situation is there is and will be unrelenting turmoil in this world and no degree of real control is vested in me, but I have assurance that God is in control, and like the sky above these raging waters, His peace surrounds and keeps me.

“It dawned on me this morning as we’re traveling to Maui that we are actually sailing through the Hawaiian Islands. I woke up and looked out our window and saw an island, which I assumed was where we were going. Cindy corrected me by saying that is just a smaller island that we are passing … Maui is still out in front of us. Sure enough, I went out on the veranda and there was Maui, looming in the near distance. But the smaller island, as well as another small island to the northwest, reminded me that we are threading our way through the Hawaiian island chain. And seeing these islands creates in me a sense of awe and reverence and, strangely enough, thankfulness that I’m able to witness this. I’m reminded of the presentation we saw of how this chain was created … how these volcanic islands rose up from the ocean floor many, many years ago. Thinking back to the first two chapters of Genesis reminds me that these islands were all created as part of God’s grand design for this planet. It also reminds me of the whole idea of the journey and the many blessings along the way being more important than the destination.”

It was on this cruise I realized it’s when I take a break from the routine, normal, predictable life and allow myself the luxury of simply resting in God’s presence that I’m privileged to see a glimpse of God’s ethereal majesty and beauty, which is all we get this side of heaven. I was also reminded to be thankful for the small blessings that come my way along the journey.

In what ways do you rest in His presence? How do you experience God’s majesty and beauty? And are you taking time to be thankful?

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Pray without Ceasing

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By Jeff Foerster

 

 

 

Pray without ceasing. What? This instruction blows my mind, my one-track mind. I don’t multitask. I don’t multitask because if I attempt it, something gets broken or someone gets hurt. For me, to “pray without ceasing” means becoming a monk and giving up driving a car, washing laundry, or even cooking a meal. I have about as much chance at successfully obeying this command as I do with “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Prayer is relational conversation.

Praying without ceasing makes a lot more sense when I consider that God is with me. He is with me as sure as a friend sitting across from me at a café or sharing a good meal at a restaurant. What do you talk about with others? You talk about how you’ve been spending your time, what happened while at work, what made you upset, that you couldn’t believe that guy in that car who did that thing or that woman in that place who said what she said—imagine her nerve! You sit around recalling that time that thing happened and you laugh ‘til tears stream down your face and your gut cries out for mercy. You share what makes you sad and what brings fear to your heart. You listen to what the other person thinks is important, and you wrestle with ideas and plans and hopes and dreams. You are in relationship.

What do you believe?

What do you believe about prayer? Not what you think—what you would tell me you believe. What do you actually believe? Do you know? To know, you must look to your actions, your “fruit.”

Here’s another way to say the same thing: How is your relationship with Jesus? I didn’t ask for your theology—what you think about Him, or what you believe about His sacrifice, as important as these are. I’m not asking you if you have prayed to receive His forgiveness, though without it there is no relationship. I am asking if you are close to Him, or if “distant” would be a more apt description. Is He called when you need something, when other avenues fail? Or do you talk to Him about everything? Do you share the triumphs and failings of the day as well as listen for His response, His questions, His leading? What would happen if you stopped talking with your spouse or your best friend for a day? A week? A month? Distance would grow, and your relationship would wither.

God is much more than any person you are connected to. He cares for you with greater passion and greater wisdom, and He knows you better than even you do. He is more than a resource for you to employ. He is heaven itself, in a person. To pray without ceasing means to lean into relationship with Jesus, with the Spirit, with the Father. Brian Sharpe spoke of A.C.T.S. in the Sunday sermon as a tool to help engagement in prayer, conversation starters. These concepts are found in the Scriptures—sometimes referred to as God’s love letters to humanity. In these, God woos us with His undying love with which He died for us. Time and again His message is one of control—He’s got it and I can let it go. The plan was formed long ago before the first of us were formed from earth. We are His beloved creations to whom He has endowed the right to become His children. God has engaged us; He made the first move, but an intimate relationship requires 100% from both—what will you do?

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The Riches of His Grace

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……By Jeff Foerster

In this week’s sermon on the book of Ephesians, Brian Sharpe laid out for us three precepts for living as a redeemed people. They are as follows:

These are good; these are great. But there is a problem: me. I want to make these powerful guidelines simply checklist items to perform and then put away. I might even take out the list daily, but only to make sure I’ve “accomplished” each item. These three points are spot on; the problem is the depth of sin’s corruption in me. I am not as bad as I could be, but every area of my being has been tainted by sin.

Wow, how depressing, right? Stay with me for just a little longer—the solution is lovely.

The other day, while watching a Seahawks game on the tele, I heard a rapping at my door. What should appear before my eyes, but two messengers of slavery. I engaged them in conversation, during which one suggested as a precept that “We are all God’s children, right?” Uh, no—sorry dude. If all people begin as God’s children and then I am promised the right to become a child of God, the foundation of Scripture becomes a wee bit uninspiring, and Jesus’s sacrifice becomes merely symbolic nicety. In truth, we have a default position, judged guilty, and a default destination, everlasting separation from God in Hell.

Okay, I promised “lovely,” but I gave you “Hell”—not without purpose, however. Only the propitiation and expiation of the cross and the resurrection can establish right relationship with God, rescuing us from the penalty of sin. We receive this not by being born in the flesh, but by being born of the Spirit. Only in understanding the depth of our depravity, our foundation in darkness, can we truly appreciate what Christ has done for us in redeeming us from the grave, from death itself! From this perspective, we begin to desire to know of God and to know God, to spend time with this God who becomes our Father, not the One we deserve, but the One we need. We needed saving, and in His abundant generosity, He also gave us a home and a future.

From this position building into desire, longing, we can recognize that sin and Satan have no hold on us, the Bible teaching us that we are born again, into life, and not into the ways of death. When we “walk” by spending time with our God in silence and in speaking, in prayer and petition, while working and while planning, while driving and while shopping, we will have neither time nor inclination to go down the “path of the prostitute.” When in close relationship with our Father, the Lord of all glory, we will clearly see our sin for what it is, our hearts will be broken for it, and we will, in repentance, fall on His mercy and purpose to walk, nay, RUN in the other direction. Simply, success is found in an ongoing relationship with the living God.

I end with Brian’s question: How should knowing we have an inheritance affect the way we live? His answer: take your eyes off the present and place them on the future. Our future is Christ—FOREVER!

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