Celebrate God’s Sovereignty
Think about it. Have you reached a point where you can recognize, and even celebrate, God’s sovereign choice in your life? It’s not always easy, is it?
Today the sun is shining, but rain is predicted for tomorrow. The same scenario may be the case in our personal lives.
My latest bit of nasty weather began about 5 months ago and neither the GP nor gastroenterologist could determine the source of the constant fatigue. Finally, I was sent for a CT scan that revealed a ruptured diverticulum requiring immediate surgery. A week in the hospital was followed by home health including physical and occupational therapy. However, the greatest source of renewed strength must be credited to my faithful Lord and Bill, my faithful husband.
Recently, I laughed and said, “Bill, when God called you into the profession of dentistry I bet you never dreamed you would be using some of those same skills to dress and re-dress abdominal wounds.” He nodded and grinned as he continued to smile and complete the thirty plus minutes of the daily procedure.
Naturally, other significant chances also came into play for my husband: Grocery shopping, cooking, dish-washing, and a long list of chores that became a part of his daily routine. On top of that he was, and still is, thinking of other ways to simply make life easier and make me smile. Observing his faithfulness points my heart back to our faithful Creator.
As you know, it’s not difficult to recognize and thank God when He is answering our prayers, but not so easy when we feel we’re being squeezed like a lemon. As this lemon squeeze regarding my health continued day after day I had to force myself to recall Romans 8:28: “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Like the process or not, God is using this illness as part of my sanctification, or for my good and His glory. Like my husband, He remains faithful through the hard times. How do I know? I know because He is my Abba Father, or daddy. In fact, Roman 8:16 declares, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
And so today I am committing my self to the remainder of Romans 8, especially verses 35-39: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death no life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Compared to what many Christians are enduring today my health issue is minor. More importantly, my LORD has a purpose in it and He is forever faithful. I can, and will, celebrate God’s sovereignty.
Think about it. Have you reached a point where you can recognize, and even celebrate, God’s sovereign choice in your life? It’s not always easy, is it?
Today the sun is shining, but rain is predicted for tomorrow. The same scenario may be the case in our personal lives.
My latest bit of nasty weather began about 5 months ago and neither the GP nor gastroenterologist could determine the source of the constant fatigue. Finally, I was sent for a CT scan that revealed a ruptured diverticulum requiring immediate surgery. A week in the hospital was followed by home health including physical and occupational therapy. However, the greatest source of renewed strength must be credited to my faithful Lord and Bill, my faithful husband.
Recently, I laughed and said, “Bill, when God called you into the profession of dentistry I bet you never dreamed you would be using some of those same skills to dress and re-dress abdominal wounds.” He nodded and grinned as he continued to smile and complete the thirty plus minutes of the daily procedure.
Naturally, other significant chances also came into play for my husband: Grocery shopping, cooking, dish-washing, and a long list of chores that became a part of his daily routine. On top of that he was, and still is, thinking of other ways to simply make life easier and make me smile. Observing his faithfulness points my heart back to our faithful Creator.
As you know, it’s not difficult to recognize and thank God when He is answering our prayers, but not so easy when we feel we’re being squeezed like a lemon. As this lemon squeeze regarding my health continued day after day I had to force myself to recall Romans 8:28: “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Like the process or not, God is using this illness as part of my sanctification, or for my good and His glory. Like my husband, He remains faithful through the hard times. How do I know? I know because He is my Abba Father, or daddy. In fact, Roman 8:16 declares, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
And so today I am committing my self to the remainder of Romans 8, especially verses 35-39: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death no life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Compared to what many Christians are enduring today my health issue is minor. More importantly, my LORD has a purpose in it and He is forever faithful. I can, and will, celebrate God’s sovereignty.
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