Today's blog is about how God reigns over all things. He reigns over our lives, but what does that include? Let's narrow it down to three things (for the writer's sake), to include our circumstances, our needs, and our protection.
Our circumstances may not be exactly what we want, but God puts us where we need to be. His purposes will prevail and our situations have purpose in them.
Our needs are under His control too. We may not enjoy the waiting part, but He will provide in His timing. The prayerful struggle may seem to go unheard, but He sees, hears, and knows what is best to meet our needs.
Our protection is overseen by Him, more than we will ever know. We may struggle to understand why some things don't work out, but often it falls under the category of His hedge of protection.
"If you could change your circumstances, would you? Most of us would respond in the affirmative. Even if we’re experiencing relatively peaceful and comfortable conditions, we can always imagine a better life. And for those of us enduring difficult, painful, or trying situations, we long to see the burden lifted. In reality, there are some circumstances over which we have no control. We can’t maneuver our way out, so our only option is to go through them. However, if we are redeemed children of God, we are exactly where He wants us, because His sovereignty rules over all our situations at all times." {intouch.org]
One biblical example of God's sovereignty over one's life is that of Paul. He was imprisoned, chained, and watched by the Roman guard. Yet despite his undesirable circumstances in life, it turned out to be the means God used to deliver the gospel to the entire Roman guard. Paul’s imprisonment also prompted other believers to boldly proclaim Christ.
"The same sovereign God who used Paul’s circumstances for His purposes can do so with yours. But like the apostle, you’ll have to trust that the Lord will comfort and strengthen you to endure, and yes, even to rejoice." (intouch.org)
Paul learned to be satisfied because God supplied all his needs. Paul understood that spiritual, physical, and material needs are wrapped up in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our needs are met through Him. Jesus is also our protector. Despite the trials that we face and the ways they turn our world upside down, Jesus ensures us by not letting us encounter anything outside of His will. "Christ has not abandoned us in our storms but instead is intimately involved, using them for our ultimate benefit. Knowing this, we can respond with trust, dependence, and worship." (intouch.org)
As for myself, yes! I would change my circumstances, if I could. Thankfully God knows that and my heart and took that realm of possibility out of my control. Instead, God chose both me and my parents to suffer for His glory. Of course, there has been lots of waiting and prayer for specific needs along the way. Recently, life has been a rollercoaster of emotions. As we wait for the right caregiver replacement, we need the right perspective. For all the ones we thought might be the right person thru our limited viewpoint, God's hedge of protection has shown otherwise.