Devotion: God is in Control

Please take a moment and read the scripture from this weekend Romans 8:38-39

On Sunday, I sat in worship and listened to Pastor Greg preach on the topic… “God is in control”. Over the years, I’ve had multiple hard conversations about that subject with random people, many who are unchurched but curious about God. I remember vividly my latest conversation with my hair stylist. When I walked into my appointment I could tell she was upset. She shared with me that a good friend’s child, who was only a couple years older than her kids, had been killed in a farm accident the day before. She was trying to come to terms with it, wondering how a mother goes on after losing her child much too soon. I let her talk and just listened. As she wrapped up, she said, “I don’t know. I guess it’s just part of God’s plan.” To this I slowly started shaking my head no… back and forth… no… I knew in my gut that wasn’t right. I said, “I don’t believe God works like that. God did not wake up and think, ‘I need this child, so I will take him from his mother today.’ I refuse to believe in a God like that. That is too mean, too hurtful and too hopeless.” She was crying and let me hug her. As I held her, I whispered, “I don’t know why he had to die. But God is sad too and loved him very much.” It felt so hopeless. Why does a child have to die? Why didn’t God stop the accident? Well, because God doesn’t work like that. He’s not up there pushing around pieces on a gameboard,… picking and choosing who lives, who faces hardships, who is born into volatile circumstances,… I refuse to believe in a God like that.

After worship, I made my way to the Education Wing to help with the Sunday Children’s Faith Formation worship time for our children in grades 1-5. I got sidetracked with a few other tasks so by the time I arrived they were in the middle of the opening song. As I stood in the back of the room, I listened to a chorus of children’s voices singing,

“I’m convinced that there is nothing… nothing that can separate me from His love. I’m convinced that there is nothing, …nothing, nothing… nothing that can separate me from His love.”

I grinned as I heard those sweet voices proclaiming what I had just heard Pastor Greg peach. God’s promise is that He will love us forever. He will love us when we push him away. He will love us when we forget about him. He will love us when we don’t do what he wants. He will love us through our hardships and pain. We can’t stop God from loving us. And our job is to love others like he does… unconditionally and when we can’t understand what’s going on. It is in those times that we trust in the promise of his unfailing grace and love. That’s what it means to be a person of faith. That’s what it means to be a part of God’s plan.

Gracious God,
There are so many things in this world that we can’t understand. There are so many things we wish we didn’t have to go through… that our loved ones wouldn’t have to go through. Help us remember that in the midst of pain and suffering, you’ve given us your love. A never-ending, abundant love that we can share. Help us to love each other better. Help us to spread your love to this hurting world.
In your mighty, saving and precious Son’s name,
Amen

Written by Julie Anderson

Julie Anderson is a member of Sheridan’s Devotion Writing Team. She works as Sheridan’s Children’s Music Coordinator where she is passionate about teaching children to use their musical gifts to praise God.

Julie is married to Scott and counts her greatest honor as being mom to Adrienne, Eliot and Elise.