How do you respond to inconvenience? When you’re stuck in traffic, or the subway is delayed, packed, and hot? You wait, and wait, and wait. How do you respond? Do you get hot and bothered? Your computer isn't working and after an hour on hold you talk to a helpdesk agent who can’t help you; what do you do?
Sometimes, we respond with grace and patience. But, sometimes we get irritated, annoyed and angry. I’ve dreamed of throwing my computer out the window. But does that make sense, if my Father is sovereign? Are we stuck in traffic or dealing with a broken computer purely by accident? 1 Kings 20 teaches that the Lord is God of hills and valleys; he's sovereign everywhere. Isn’t he God of transit and transistors, too? Doesn’t God know we need to be somewhere? Doesn’t he know how stinky and uncomfortable the subway can be and how frustrating it is when technology doesn’t work? Yes, he does; but if we're his children we're assured he’s bringing these things into our lives for our good.
All of us have moments when the way we live and think just doesn’t live up to what we know to be true. We need to remind ourselves of the truth and think through its implications. On the issue of God’s sovereign, providential guidance of all things, Heidelberg Catechism Question #28 is particularly helpful: What advantage comes from acknowledging God’s creation and providence? We learn that we are to be patient in adversity,grateful in the midst of blessing,and to trust our faithful God and Father for the future, assured that no creature shall separate us from his love,since all creatures are so completely in his hand that without his will they cannot even move. |
