Lord of All

Josh Bell
Written By Jeff Rybacki
 

“That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me.  I am the Lord, and there is no other, [7] The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these”

Isaiah 45:6-7 NASB

We are no doubt living in troubling times. A time that is presenting scenarios that likely all of us have never experienced and hopefully will never experience again on the back side of all of this. As we plunged from a prosperous, booming economy, wrapped up in our busy schedules, many of us mindlessly trudging through life in the mundane we were suddenly blindsided with the uncertainty of our health, our jobs, our finances, the future of the economy, and our relationships. In these moments it’s too easy to lose sight of Who is in control of it all as we naturally and selfishly look to our own welfare and agenda. 

We are reminded in Isaiah 45:6-7 that God holds everything in His hand. He is in control of it all. He forms the light and creates the darkness. He causes well-being (or as translated: peace) and He brings about the calamity.  If we truly believe God’s providence and sovereignty, we can rest in knowing that God is working through all situations in life.  He is working just as much through the good as He is in the bad. Once we come to terms with that, we can put aside the fears and doubts and trust that He is methodically orchestrating His plan, for His purposes. 

In Job 2:10 Job responds to his wife by saying “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity.” Believers are not exempt from troubling times and it’s in these moments of uncertainty where we need to remind ourselves that we are to remain faithful to the Lord, fervent and steadfast in our commitment to walk in repentance and obedience to Him.  It is sinful to be overcome with fear, anxiety, and unrighteous anger.  1 Peter 5:6-11 tells us that we are to cast our anxieties on Him, because he cares for us.  He has the strength to carry our burdens. That passage goes on to say that the devil prowls around seeking to devour. In our anxieties we will be weak and a prime target for the devil’s schemes.  We are to instead resist him, standing firm in our faith and in that faith, through suffering, we are being perfected, strengthened, and established.  

In a quote from Alistair Begg where he responded to losing his mother, he states “More spiritual progress is made through failure and tears than success and laughter.” It’s in these times where spiritual growth should flourish abundantly and as odd as it may sound, we should rejoice in our trials because we are being proven and refined in them.

So, in times like these we need to be asking ourselves:

  • What can we learn through all of this?

  • How can we grow in our relationship with God?

  • Are we being faithful?  Or fearful?

  • Are we helpful (in faith)?  Or useless (in fear)?

  • Are we representing the character of Christ through the struggles? 

  • Will others see the fruit of our faith in Jesus?

As we reflect on our lives in our current situation, especially since most of us have more time, let’s make sure we are making good use of our time for the Lord.  Let’s seek Him in all things, the good and the bad.  Let us not have a spirit of fear but instead a spirit of courage.  Courage in Christ, the One who has the power to strengthen us, encourage us, and lift us up in times of trouble.  And let us remember, God is in complete control.  He brings about the good and the bad and he works through all of it for His purposes and for His glory.  May His name be proclaimed throughout the earth during these troubling times. 

Pray: Lord, we thank you that you are the God of all things, the One who created everything by the word of your mouth and by your hand all things come to pass for your glory.  Help us in these times of uncertainty to our trust completely in You and help us to see and understand how we can grow closer to You daily, growing in faith and not fear, while seeking to serve and love others according to Your will.  May Your name be proclaimed throughout all the earth.  Amen!

 
Jeff Rybacki
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