God’s heavenly throne is eternal, secure, and strong, and his kingdom rules the entire universe! Psalm 103:19 (TPT)
In Control – The Control Series – Part 1
God is in control. He rules and reigns above it all. No name is greater and no force more powerful; God is sovereign over us. “He existed before anything was made, so now everything finds completion in him.” (Col 1:17 TPT)
Right?
We love the idea of control, and that we have it. Or at least, someone does. We love knowing the certainty of two plus two equalling four. We’re taught to color in the lines and treat people nice. If you study, you’ll get good grades. If you practice, skills will grow. If you behave, you’ll be rewarded. If you’re bad, you’ll be disciplined. If we do this and that, the outcome will be certain. Controlled, neat, reasonable, measured, nice. Finished off with a bow. A shiny silk one.
We read stories of sovereign families, always imagining ourselves as among them – a noble or a royal. God being the Good King, who ensures the safety and prosperity of His Own. This sovereign family is beyond fair, impeccably kind, gigantically good, widely loved and generously respected. All within their kingdom know they’ll be treated with fairness and truth and never fear or want for anything.
A fairy tale indeed. We dream of perfection, nothing out of place, everything intact. There are surprises, sure… good ones, or ones that are resolved efficiently with the help of a benevolent benefactor, (who is, of course, dashing).
The only thing is, fairytales aren’t real. No matter how much we think we are in control, things happen and remind us that we are not. They make us question if we ever had any control at all.
And does God?
A loved one dies, innocence is stolen, parents divorce, bullies are relentless, you’re constantly let down, sickness lingers, depression sets in… Maybe you’ve experienced heartbreaking things, horrifying things. Or maybe you’ve seen people suffer more than you ever thought possible. People who in no way, shape, or form deserve the pain they know. Sometimes the trouble we go through and the atrocities we see, bring with them an even more frightening question;
What if God IS in control?
One day, Jesus rode ’triumphantly’ into Jerusalem, the people around him joyously shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the king of Israel!” They were proclaiming him as their new king, in place of Herod. In place of Ceasar. He would take back control of the nation, he would set the political and social wrongs right, turn everything back around to the way it should be. However, seven days later, after hearing “Blessed is the King of Israel” sung in the streets, this man who was meant to become their new ruler, was murdered, hung on a cross; the very image of defeat.
Not the usual way a king establishes his sovereign reign.
Go to Part 2 – Sovereignty and Dominion »
Written by Lizzy Milani
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