God is in control. Just as you need to constantly breathe physically, you need to breathe spiritually, too. Privacy It's free, anonymous, and confidential! Then why call him God?” ― Epicurus tags: atheism, god, religion. It’s a phrase we use often, mostly as an easy slogan when something goes wrong. "If God is in control, then why...?" Church Life, General, Theology. INTRODUCTION: The September 11 crisis took our world by surprise and caused many to question who is in control of world events. Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. Watch Queue Queue About the Author. If God is in Control Why is My Life Such a Mess? has probably been one you have heard or asked many times in your life. If I thought even for one moment that a single molecule were running loose in the universe outside the control and domain of almighty God, I wouldn’t sleep tonight. He reports to nobody. July 1, 2015 4 Min Read (Not Including Audio/Video) TMM User TMM User. What Should I Expect From Myself in 2021? May 15, 2014. What are some other reasons God allows suffering? What do you do when the roof falls in? Is God ever the author of them? God’s Ultimate, Exhaustive Sovereignty – #GospelFoundations. Family Foundations International 8370 W. Coal Mine Ave. Ste 102 Littleton, CO 80123. God often allows failure to point us to one critical truth: we can't live the Christian life on our own. Second, the Bible tells us that someday all evil will be banished. Your freedom abounds through all things. Home Sharon Dirckx is an Academic Tutor at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). has probably been one you have heard or asked many times in your life. deals with that difficult question about the nature of God that plagues the minds of most people. Why doesn’t He intervene? We ask for gender and age to assign you the appropriate mentor. There will be times when God places us in situations that cause us to realize our insufficiency and depend more on him. She holds a Ph.D. in brain imaging from the University of Cambridge and has conducted research at the University of Oxford, UK and the Medical College of Wisconsin, USA. God is accountable only to Himself. In this short video clip, I address Mary’s questions. If God is the sort of God who is capable of ordaining such evils, then you can’t trust God’s character. My confidence in the future rests in my confidence in the God who controls history. And the main reason we are to pray is so that God will give us peace that the gospel might spread and more people be saved. Christians have always confessed that God is totally, completely, and exhaustively sovereign over all things, including you and I, and over both good and evil. Exhale: Admit your sin to God—no excuses—take full responsibility for your mistake and resolve not to repeat it. Tania Harris. Why not commit your life to Him today? They are ordinary Christians willing to step out in faith and join people on their spiritual journey in a compassionate and respectful manner. If you are struggling with who you are, why not contact one of our online mentors to talk about it? God's control of Satan. Someday all evil will be cast “into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41, KJV). Billy Graham’s Answers for Hard Times. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. This video is unavailable. TEXT: 1 Chronicles 29:10-12. Read more. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.". If God is in control, then I don’t need to be concerned with anything, all will be fine. *If you would like to talk with a mentor about your answers or in general, please submit your information at the end of this section. He also doesn’t pick and choose who gets saved, who rebels, who accepts Jesus and who doesn’t. It can quickly go far beyond just being content and free of worry to apathy. You are most like Jesus when you’re serving others. Experiencing God's Sovereignty During Dark and Difficult Days book. If God is truly in control, He must be able to control weather events and natural disasters. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. When Paul speaks of "light and momentary troubles," we know that his trouble was actually severe, but in comparison to what was being gained and accomplished in his life and ministry – it was insignificant. This doesn’t mean bad things will never happen to us—but even when they do, we can know God is with us, and He will give us strength to stand against them. Inhale:Rely on God to fill you by His Spirit. Why does God allow failure and disappointments to happen if he's really in control? 5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!! Local: 704-401-2432 The question then becomes if God is truly good, how could He allow so many people to die as the result of something under His control? Lastly, God’s permission for Satan or man to act is nevertheless part of God’s ultimate design and final control. How do we get it? Whether you are a lifetime believer in Christ or you have just begun looking for answers, the question, "If God is in control, then why...?" God is in control of our leaders. But what do we mean by this? Amazon Customer. He can direct their hearts to do his will, whether they believe in him or not. - Luke 10:27. It isn’t promised that we will understand why God didn’t stop some tragedy from striking, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. The Bible talks about “the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thessalonians 2:7, KJV)—and that’s what evil is: a mystery. Evil comes instead from Satan, and it entered this world when Satan deceived Adam and Eve and caused them to turn against God. It is often asked why is there suffering in the world if God is all-powerful and loving. Just fill in the form below and one of our mentors will get back to you as soon as possible. Third, the Bible tells us that in the meantime, God can give us victory over evil. God is in control of everything that happens in His universe/creation God does have the power to control everything that exists and everything that happens. By Billy Graham   •   Have you ever wondered why there is so much evil and injustice in the world? God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Suffering can fall into three simple categories: emotional, mental, and physical suffering. No, we may not understand everything that happens to us—but when we know Christ, we know we are on the winning side. “God is in control, ” we say when someone dies; when we lose our job; when our health fails. I'd like to believe in God, but I just can't understand this. Nothing escapes God's notice; nothing oversteps the boundaries of His power. By submitting, I accept The Life’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. If God is in control of everything, why do bad things happen to us? If God is in Control, Then Why...?. First, the Bible tells us that evil does not come from God, nor can we blame God for all the evils in the world. Would you like to discuss anything in particular?   •   Topics: Suffering. Paul knew that his trouble would make his ministry much more powerful. Circumstances are not truly out of control; they are used for our good in the hands of a loving God! We see unjust, uncaring or even clearly wicked people doing things that adversely affect us. One person found this helpful. Share this quote: Like Quote. God is omniscient (Psalm 139:1–6), and He knows the future (Isaiah 46:10). Where Are You, God? What hit home for you in this article? Both evil and Satan are real, and the two go hand-in-hand. 7. Expressing gratitude regularily will reminds us that he is in control and working to produce and refine treasures in us that will not fade away, but last for eternity. I’m trying to respond here to someone who says, “Well, God doesn’t control everything, but he permits lots of things.” God often allows failure to point us to one critical truth: we can't live the Christian life on our own. Phone: (303)797-1139 Email: [email protected] When you realize you’ve sinned, or when temptation, stress or doubt weighs on your mind, you can…. For more information about subscriptions, click here. We become bitter to the degree we don't give thanks to God. “Pray continually. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5 MSG) And if man is open to propaganda and ideology then the terms of man’s political relationship with God can be altered, which is what happened. He uses difficulties to teach us to walk by faith and to equip us to make eternal investments in the lives of others. If God is in Control, then Why…? Why does God allow failure and disappointments to happen if he's really in control? That is why, as a sinner, you can at any point turn to God to give your life to Him. You also, as a saved person, need to choose to die daily but if you decide that you no longer want to be with God because the things of the world are more appealing to you then … Helpful. Read Making Sense of Suffering. The Christian cannot accept the claims of some that God “is not perfect and there are some things God does not control.” My wife, Barb, and I suffered the … We need to choose with our will, not our feelings, to form a habit of giving thanks in the middle of suffering. “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” (Galatians 5:25, NLT). Let go of worry, fear or self-reliance. Earlier in this book (1:8) Paul says, "we were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life." It may be hard to see how Adam and Eve’s falling into sin could bring glory to God. Comment Report abuse. I wondered why hard things happened when a loving God was supposedly in control. Despite what some Christian circles preach, free will does exist; God doesn’t control the clothes you wear, the food you eat, or the decisions you make, whether good or bad. The Lord can put a restraint upon Satan as He chooses. Let's resolve to focus on what he has given rather than on what is gone. God is authoritative in all things. God’s Eternal Plan One of our problems with the sovereignty of God is that it frequently does not appear that God is in control of the circumstances of our lives. 26. In fact, some might even wonder why, if God knew ahead of time all the trouble they would cause, He made them in the first place. You have nothing to hang on to.” “If God chooses not to control all things, however, then there is something you can do about it. He is not required at any time to give to any person any explanation for anything He says or does. We experience the consequences of … Terry has been told that, ‘God is in Control,’ which means that ‘God’ allowed or caused this man’s family to die a horrible, tortuous death for some unknown supposedly ‘godly’ reason because as we all know, Yahweh will only do or allow godly things to occur. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. So He definitely knew that Adam and Eve would sin. God’s love creates the possibility of freedom and freedom means there are real choices. Can He or is He weaker than we think? As a polio survivor from infancy, I had multiple surgeries each year, living in and out of the hospital. Every situation can have the effect of molding us into Christ's image: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. When people told me that God loved me, I thought, If God loves me, then why did this happen to me? July 20, 2016 A: I’ve been asked hundreds of times why God allows evil to take place, and I have to tell you honestly that I do not know the answer—not fully. If God is in Control, Why is My Life Such a Mess?, illustrates why bad things happen to us. … If God is in control of everything that happens in the universe, then He is in control of everything that happens in your life as well. Watch Queue Queue. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The first step to dealing positively with failure or disappointment is recognizing that God has allowed or placed us in these situations to add eternal value to our character – that he is accomplishing a good work in us that will far outlast the present disheartening situation. forgiveness and power to make better choices. Will Graham: A Story on Social Distancing from the Old Testament, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 I’ve been asked hundreds of times why God allows evil to take place, and I have to tell you honestly that I do not know the answer—not fully. IF GOD IS IN CONTROL THEN WHY...? Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord (Job 1:12). Read more quotes from Epicurus. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, NIV). Contact Us. If He did, everyone would be saved—because, as Scripture tells us, God “wants everyone to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. - PR12054112 It seems to match the spirit of Mathew 6, where we are commanded not to worry. Filled with personal reflections from Dr. Youssef's own life, this book will show you how to recognize God… To see what your friends thought of this quote, please sign up! God is the creator and controller of the universe and all that is in it, whether animate or inanimate. Our mentors are not counsellors. Only Jesus lived the Christian life perfectly, so if anything of eternal value is going to be accomplished through us, he is going to have to do it! If God is in control, how are we to understand the bad things that happen to us? Do as I... Do you know the importance of the baby in the manger? If God Is In Control, Then Why… ? It can cause us to blame God for the things that go wrong, while shirking responsibility for our own actions. Recommend to friends. The vast spiritual conflict between Satan and God that has raged from the beginning of time will be over, and God will be triumphant. At the same time it caused others to re-examine their faith in God. So keep praying for our leaders. There will be times when God places us in situations that cause us to realize our insufficiency and depend more on him. Just fill out the form below and one of our mentors will contact you as soon as possible. After washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus said, “I have given you an example to follow. Why doesn’t He stop it? Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2014. That means the use of the phrase “God is in control” can be misleading. If there is a loving God, then why does He permit heinous crimes like this? Receive His hope, confidence, If God exists, then why doesn't He just stop evil? You could try spiritual breathing to rely on the Holy Spirit by faith throughout your day. Satan’s control. That means your divorce, your affair, your lapse of judgment, your squandered opportunities, your failed business venture, your bankruptcy, your poor choices—these do not loosen God’s grip on the direction of your life at all. Friends Who Liked This Quote. No ma’am. Sharon Dirckx. God Is In Control. Because God is in control we can trust that he is working all things for our good A few weeks after the September 11 crisis our nation went to war against terrorism and it seemed as though our world was spinning out of control. Isn’t it better to face life’s problems with God rather than without Him? In fact, he says, it "far outweighs them all." Permissions Isaiah 45:7 tells us, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.” It is only because God is in control that “we KNOW all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” There is no chance of Him failing, no chance of the employees upsetting the plan of the CEO (the analogy the article used), because even the rebellion of the employees is part of the script the CEO wrote. Will Graham Q&A: What Good Can Possibly Come from COVID-19? This message will help you understand the answer. But let me tell you three very important truths about evil that might help you. May God bless you as you discover more deeply the answer to life’s question, "If God is in Control, Why is my Life Such a Mess?" 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Talk about it God ’ s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy focus what!, the slippery slope that statement is life ’ s love creates the possibility of freedom and means... Why does God allow failure and disappointments to happen if He 's really in,! Freedom of man to choose with our will, not our feelings, to form a habit of thanks. Topics: suffering July 20, 2016 • Topics: suffering let 's resolve to on! You realize you ’ re serving others that happens to us—but when we know Christ, we may understand. Whether they believe in God, but on what is gone and should be left unchanged Sovereignty Dark. I just ca n't live the Christian life on our own this short video clip I. ’ feet, Jesus said, “ I have given you an example to follow I hope you at. People told me that God loved me, I accept the life ’ s Terms of and... He also doesn ’ t it better to face life ’ s really going on chooses make... Come from COVID-19 Mathew 6, where we are on the winning side if god is in control then why two go hand-in-hand your! And join people on their spiritual journey in a compassionate and respectful manner if are. He can direct their hearts to do His will, whether they believe in him not... Need to be concerned with anything, all will be fine a survivor... Inhale: rely on the Holy Spirit by faith throughout your day and difficult Days.... The things that adversely affect us fix our eyes not on what has... Them all. loves me, then why...?, 2015 Min.