When we trust in the Father’s sovereignty, we stand on two assurances. Passages like…, Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. The first is that He is intimately involved in our daily life. Learn More >>, Copyright © Living on the Edge. No one can act outside of God’s sovereign will or against it. The Prophet Jeremiah asks, “Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?” (Lamentations 3:37). For if there were, then he’d have to shoulder the blame. God promises to always be by your side. For my own sake, I have developed a slightly shorter definition that I can more easily remember: God’s providence is His constant care for and His absolute rule over all His creation for His own glory and the good of His people. If God was controlling everything, we would not se… Let’s take a look at the nature of God; He tells us through His Word that He is love, light, and all things good. Other times it’s a struggle. God never pursues His glory at the expense of the good of His people, nor does He ever seek our good at the expense of His glory. And because God is good, we can have full confidence in His absolute and loving control over every aspect of our existence. All rights reserved. Even the Apostle Paul pleaded with God three times to take away the thorn in his flesh before he finally found God’s grace to be sufficient. The so-called laws of nature are nothing more than the physical expression of the steady will of Christ. Designed to foster open and authentic discussion, Is God in Control of My Life? Isaiah 41:10 ESV / 3,623 helpful votes. I committed my life to God and allowed Him to shape my life as He wills, and not as I think it should be. The truth is: Nothing will come into my life or your life today that God did not either allow or decree for our ultimate good. So about twenty college students prayed for him and we begged God for two days to save his life. And also when he did survive but ended up paralyzed from the waist down. helps your small group have thoughtful conversations on the books of Joshua, Ruth, and Esther. God is in control of my life, but still I have freedom to control my body and feelings. Soon after the South Asian tsunami, a commentator in The Herald of Glasgow, Scotland, wrote the following: “God, if there is a God, should be ashamed of himself. We do not want God to have control because that’s more scary and requires really, truly trusting God with our lives. When adversity strikes, even the Christian is tempted to ask, “Where is God? In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about.”. “I hope the pandemic ends soon.” “I…, Sometimes the Christian life feels blessed and rewarding. Note the absolute terms Packer uses: “unceasing activity,” “all events … all acts,” “directs everything.” Clearly there is no concept of now-and-then, part-time governance on God’s part in this definition. Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. Is God really in control? Amid COVID-19 Horror, Iran Releases Thousands of Prisoners, Boy Thrown From Mall Balcony Walking, Giving Thanks to Jesus. When we struggle to give up control, it’s usually out of fear … But notice also the twofold objective of God’s providence: His own glory and the good of His people. We want to think we have control to feel safe and secure. Any use or disposition He chooses to make of any part of His creation is His sovereign right. Other adversities are chronic, persistent and seemingly designed to wear down our spirits over time. 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