Who's in charge here?
Life can be frustrating sometimes. I'm not talking about the times when we cause that frustration ourselves. We make poor choices and suffer the consequences just as the Word of God tells us, that's not what I'm talking about here.
I'm speaking of the times when we are doing everything right, working hard, and someone else, less deserving, gets the promotion. Or we pray for a particular door to open and it closes tightly. Or when a health issue does not go away, but gets worse.
At hard times like these, it's easy to forget who is in control of our lives.
One thing we can be sure of, God is in control. God is always in control. It's important to keep in mind that this doesn't mean an easy life. It just means that whatever comes our way is in our life only by his permission.
Jesus did not desire the cross. In fact, Jesus asked his Father three times to allow that burden to be taken from him.
"Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Matthew 26:39 (NIV)
Jesus was not only facing a painful death and taking the sins of the world on himself, but also separation from the Father. He prayed three times, and then he accepted God's will.
Later, during Jesus' trial, Pilate would say to him.
"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
That is where we live sometimes isn't it? We think that the powers around us have the final say. Jesus knew better. He had already accepted the cross, not from the people, not from Pilate, but from God.
Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." John 19:10-11 (NIV)
Understanding this, and understanding that God's agenda for our life is always to transform us into the image of his son can help to increase our faith even in the darkest times.
Who's in charge here? Our heavenly Father, the King of Glory.
"Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory." Psalms 24-8-10(NIV)
