Bottom line, life on planet earth can push us to our emotional and physical limits. Feeling like we can’t control the outcome can hijack all peace and joy if we’re not on-guard. But when life takes us through those “lands of affliction,” we still have a choice.
We can (a) completely freak-out — which is a totally understandable human reaction to unwanted situations and unknown tomorrows, or we can (b) completely freak-out for a second — because we’re still human — but then preach the truth of our sovereign, steadfast God to our hearts and minds, stirring up waves of hope. In Christ, the choice is ours.
A number of years ago the sovereignty of God became more to me than some theological phenomenon I read about in seminary books. The sovereignty of God became a solid place of truth upon which to stand when I can’t see what He is doing. I talk a bit about that in this week’s short video teaching for Fruitful Affliction
I pray that these small words in a cutesy video describing such a lofty, powerful aspect of our God stir up endurance and comfort in you today. Our Lord sits on His throne. And He remains perfectly faithful to His children.
Fruitful Affliction Week Three Video.
Fill me, Lord…
How/when has the “sovereignty of God” empowered you to keep walking forward?
Thank you Lara, for your study and your words. God keeps reminding me that He is in control, His plan is perfect and He loves me.
Thanks for sharing, Riette. He is! Praying we remember that deep down in our souls today.
Oh Lord I’m feeling the affliction. Don’t want to be singing the victim song. But God continues to remind me to have a soft heart. I think right now I am learning about boundaries, expectations, and being okay with relationships going through times of not being okay. I simply pray that God will guard my heart from callousness and allowing myself to be vulnerable. I think that in going through what feels like years of hurt it is easy for me to put up barriers and keep people, even close family members, at arms length. Plus feelings of not measuring up can send me into a very depressing and dread of life mode. That is certainly not God’s will for me. He is life…Even when I cannot see how a situation can possibly be resurrected back to life. I’ve seen Him do it before in my marriage.
I completely understand, Kim. Relationships can get so messy and complex and staying on guard against hardness of heart is huge. Praying along with you that we maintain His perspective in the moments of today — that He would grace us with His view of the people around us. Blessings, sister.
It is so hard not to get ruffled when things seem out of control. I know in my head that God is for me, that He is good, and that I can trust Him. I know that he is Sovereign. But sometimes my heart fails. I recently wrote out Hebrews 11 over the course of a couple weeks and really studies it. The stories of the faithful revived my own faith. The same now with the story of Joseph. It builds my confidence and trust in his Sovereignty.
This week had a lot of challenges for me personally. Laying down my right and praying/encouraging others. Seeing what I was and where God has grown me to. Opening my hands to peace rather than allowing fear to overcome me. Start with God in a situation. Learning this act of circumcising my heart/to rend.
So encouraging to hear, Rebecca. Thank you for sharing. Hebrews 11 is a powerful text. God uses broken humans through whom to shine His glory and might. It’s miraculous. It’s grace. I pray as you go through this week that He continues to speak life into you. He really is faithful. He really is good.