In the book of Job (see chapters 1 and 2) we see how Satan was given permission by God to destroy all of Job’s possessions, kill his ten children, and afflict him with excruciating painful sores all over his body. (Job 2:7). One of the main takeaways from reading (Job 1 and 2) is that Satan would have no ability to afflict Job unless he was given permission by God. While Job never found out why he had to go through so much suffering we are allowed to go behind the scenes of this cosmic battle between good and evil to discover that God will often allow a believer to go through pain, affliction, and suffering to prove to Satan that Christians can glorify God by enduring these trials and that Christians can grow in their faith and learn to trust in our Sovereign God no matter the pain and suffering.
I believe that like Job when we go through suffering we can feel free to curse the unfairness of life but know that God has a perfect divine plan and reason for allowing it and that in the end we can hold fast to (Romans 8:28): “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
I like how J. C. Ryle put it: “Nothing whatever, whether great or small, can happen to a believer, without God’s ordering and permission. There is no such thing as ‘chance,’ ‘luck’ or ‘accident’ in the Christian’s journey through this world. All is arranged and appointed by God. And all things are ‘working together’ for the believer’s good.”1 And R. C. Sproul added: “There is not one piece of cosmic dust that is outside the scope of God’s sovereign providence.”2 And my friends when we understand that God is indeed in control of the entire universe, we can trust that He has a divine master plan for ultimate good and that He wants to use even our tragedies for His glory.
Imagine how much God loves you that He wants to use you to bring glory to His name and the advancement of His kingdom. And if this means using suffering to bring these things about let’s thank God for these trials and reflect on the words of Joni Eareckson Tada who once said: “Sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves.”3
1 15 Amazing Quotes about the Christian Journey | ChristianQuotes.info
2 There is not one piece of cosmic dust that is outside… – SermonQuotes
3 Joni Eareckson Tada Quotes (Author of Joni) (goodreads.com)
You’re right, Curt. God is in control. I found that even believers can get anxious in troubled times. With so much happening in our culture today that is anti-God and the Bible, it’s a perfect time to share the hope we have in God and the Bible. It’s like a desert out there, and many thirst for truth. Share biblical truth with joy and an expectation that God’s purposes will be fulfilled.